King Haakon VIII says King Harald represented Norway with ‘pleasure and pleasure’, guarantees to hearken to Norwegians as monarch.
Revealed On 29 Aug 2026
The brand new monarch of Norway, King Haakon VIII, has praised his late father, King Harald, for a way he represented Norwegians, and promised to provide every little thing for the nation as king.
King Haakon gave his first speech as king on Saturday, which was aired reside on tv, a day after his father’s demise.
Advisable Tales
checklist of three objectsfinish of checklist
“We’re in mourning. On the identical time, it brings us consolation and power to know that so many are mourning with us,” he mentioned, as reported by Norway’s public broadcaster NRK.
King Harald died on Friday at age 89 after 35 years as monarch. He suffered from haemolytic anaemia, which causes fatigue and shortness of breath.
“As king, my father represented Norway and the Norwegian folks with pleasure and pleasure, by way of visits across the nation, at occasions right here on the royal palace, and whereas engaged on Norway’s behalf around the globe,” Haakon mentioned.
Tens of 1000’s of individuals gathered outdoors the royal palace in Oslo to pay their respects. Haakon thanked the general public, saying it had been “a robust and shifting expertise to see the Palace Sq. stuffed with folks, flowers, messages of condolence, and candles.”
The federal government has declared a nationwide mourning interval, which is able to final till after the funeral. A date has not but been introduced, however the Church of Norway will maintain memorial providers throughout the nation on Sunday. In church buildings and metropolis halls round Norway, folks got here to put in writing in condolence books and lightweight candles.
In his speech, Haakon mentioned he and his spouse, Queen Mette-Marit, and his daughter, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, can be current and listening.
“We consider in our widespread authorities – and in democracy. We consider in a society constructed on regulation and justice – and the place everyone seems to be of equal worth,” he mentioned.
Haakon is because of take an oath to defend Norway’s structure and legal guidelines earlier than the legislature on Tuesday.
He turns into king within the wake of controversy surrounding his spouse’s relationship with the late intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein. Haakon’s stepson, Marius Borg Hoiby, was additionally discovered responsible of rape, home violence different fees and sentenced to 4 years in jail in June.
