Thousands of Norwegians gathered outside the Royal Palace in Oslo on Saturday, 29 August 2026, to pay their final respects to King Harald V — Europe’s longest-reigning monarch — who died the previous day at the age of 89. Under heavy rain late on Friday evening, crowds formed long queues along Oslo’s streets to watch the funeral procession as it moved from the University Hospital in Oslo, where the King passed away, to the Royal Palace. His coffin was placed in the palace’s chapel, where members of the public were invited to pay tribute.
A Nation in Mourning
Norwegian flags flew at half-mast across the country. Portraits of the late King in formal regalia appeared everywhere — from bus stops and tram stations to metro platforms, shops, offices, and government buildings. The atmosphere was one of quiet reverence, as citizens of all ages and backgrounds converged on the capital’s central Karl Johans gate, many holding flowers, handwritten notes, children’s drawings, and small national flags.
A Seamless Transition
With the death of King Harald V, his son Crown Prince Haakon immediately succeeded him as King Haakon VIII — a constitutional transition that required no coronation, as the ceremony was abolished by parliament in 1908. On Tuesday, 1 September 2026, the new monarch will take the constitutional oath before the Storting (Norway’s parliament), pledging to uphold the nation’s Constitution and laws.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre addressed the nation shortly after meeting with the new King, declaring: “An era has ended. A new one begins. The King is dead. Long live the King.” He praised Harald V as a unifying figure whose 35-year reign was defined by warmth, humour, deep affection for the Norwegian people, and unwavering faith in the nation.
A Legacy of Inclusion
The timing of the mourning coincided with what would have been the King and Queen Sonja’s 58th wedding anniversary — a moment many used to reflect on Harald V’s enduring commitment to diversity and inclusion. Veselina Vitanova, a 43-year-old Bulgarian-born schoolteacher, told Reuters outside the palace: “He meant so much to us immigrants… We truly felt included. Because of him, I feel deeply Norwegian.” Others recalled his widely shared 2016 speech affirming Norway’s values of equality and love — a message that resonated globally: “Norwegians are girls who love girls, boys who love boys, and girls and boys who love each other.”