New Norwegian King Haakon pays emotional tribute to late father Harald in national address

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6 days · 5 summary articles
Norway’s King Haakon VIII delivered his first address to the nation on Saturday, a day after the death of his father, King Harald V, at age 89. Speaking from the Royal Palace in Oslo, Haakon paid tribute to Harald, who ruled for 35 years, and vowed to serve the country with the same dedication .
“As king, my father represented Norway and the Norwegian people with pride and joy,” Haakon said, according to Norway’s public broadcaster NRK. He described Harald as a “warm and funny grandfather” and a “loving and caring husband” to Queen Sonja, noting that Saturday would have marked their 58th wedding anniversary . The new king’s voice broke as he thanked his father for being “such a good dad” to him and his sister, Princess Märtha Louise .
Tens of thousands of Norwegians gathered outside the royal palace in Oslo, laying flowers, candles, and messages of condolence. Haakon called the outpouring “a powerful and moving experience” and expressed gratitude for the public’s support during the national mourning period . The government has declared a period of national mourning, with memorial services held across the country on Sunday, including at Oslo Domkirke and Asker Kirke .
Haakon, 53, will take an oath to defend Norway’s constitution before the legislature on Tuesday. He succeeds Harald, who died Friday after a brief hospital stay due to haemolytic anaemia, a rare blood condition . In his speech, Haakon emphasized unity, stating that the royal family believes in “a society built on law and justice, where everyone is of equal value” .
The new king’s address came amid public scrutiny of his family, including his wife Queen Mette-Marit’s past association with Jeffrey Epstein and the recent conviction of her son, Marius Borg Hoiby, on charges including rape and domestic violence . Haakon’s daughter, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 22, is expected to take on a more prominent role in the monarchy .
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