Norway is observing a national period of mourning following the death of King Harald V, who passed away at the age of 89 on Friday at Oslo University Hospital. Harald, Europe’s oldest reigning monarch at the time of his death, had been hospitalised since August 17 due to haemolytic anaemia, a condition causing the rapid destruction of red blood cells. The late king reigned for 35 years and was widely regarded as a unifying figure and an embodiment of Norway’s values of openness and tolerance.

Thousands of Norwegians gathered at the Royal Palace in Oslo over the weekend to pay their respects, leaving flowers and condolence messages at Slottsplassen, the square in front of the palace. Public institutions including churches and city halls opened their doors to allow citizens to light candles and record their thoughts in condolence books. Flags across the country flew at half-mast in tribute to the late monarch. Although no date has been set for Harald’s funeral, the coffin was transported from the hospital to the royal palace on Friday evening, and plans are underway to allow the public to view it in the palace chapel.

King Harald’s death marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter for Norway under the reign of his son, Crown Prince Haakon, who immediately succeeded him as King Haakon VIII. The 53-year-old monarch, who holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California at Berkeley and a master’s in development studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science, prepared to take the oath of allegiance before Norway’s parliament on Tuesday. Haakon is expected to deliver his first address to the nation in the coming days and had scheduled meetings with key figures including the speaker of parliament, the chief justice of the Supreme Court, and the presiding bishop of the Church of Norway.

The new king and his wife, Queen Mette-Marit, assumed their roles amid ongoing challenges facing the royal family. Mette-Marit has faced scrutiny for her past associations, notably connections to the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In June, her son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Hoiby—Haakon’s stepson—was sentenced to four years in prison for two counts of rape and other charges including domestic violence. Mette-Marit herself underwent a lung transplant in July due to a serious lung condition. Despite these difficulties, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store praised the late king for his steady leadership and described the monarchy as modern and modest.

King Harald’s legacy is remembered for his efforts to unite Norway, particularly through difficult periods like the 2011 massacre carried out by neo-Nazi Anders Behring Breivik. Many Norwegians recall Harald’s ability to provide comfort and security during national crises, seeing him as a “king of the people.” The monarchy itself, with deep historical roots dating back to the ninth century, continues to hold a symbolic position in Norway’s constitutional framework, with real political authority resting in the elected parliament.

As Norway mourns, attention turns to King Haakon VIII’s reign, with public and political expectations that he will uphold the monarchy’s role in uniting the country and representing its values domestically and abroad.