Tens of thousands pay tribute as Norway mourns King Harald V

Mourners have been paying their respects following the death of Norway’s King Harald V (Heiko Junge/NTB/AP)

Tens of thousands of mourners have paid their respects to Norway’s King Harald V, placing flowers and condolence cards outside the royal palace in Oslo a day after his death aged 89.

A sea of colourful flowers covered Slottsplassen, the square in front of the palace, on Saturday as a steady stream of Norwegians filed past.

Across the country, churches and city halls opened specially on Saturday so people could light candles and write their thoughts about the king in condolence books.

The coffin arrived at the royal palace on Friday evening from the National Hospital in Oslo where Harald died.

As he paid his respects on Saturday, Roni Ervik, 46, said: “It’s special, intimate, and lovely. I’m placing my right hand on my chest in gratitude to him and the royal family.”

Harald V died on Friday morning and his 53-year-old son, Crown Prince Haakon, became King Haakon VIII.

Haakon adopted the motto “All for Norway”, which dates back to his great-grandfather. His wife became Queen Mette-Marit, while his oldest child, Ingrid Alexandra, became crown princess and heir to the throne.

Haakon is well acquainted with his royal obligations. As his father aged and his health declined in recent years, he stepped in as the country’s regent on several occasions.

The new king is scheduled over the weekend to hold audiences with the speaker of Norway’s parliament, the chief justice of the Supreme Court, and the presiding bishop of the Lutheran Church of Norway, with Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra also expected to attend.

Haakon is expected to address the people of Norway in his first speech as king either later Saturday or in the coming days.

His tasks in the near future will include shoring up support for the monarchy following controversies over his wife’s past contacts with deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his stepson’s rape conviction.

A date for Harald’s funeral has not been set, but the country is officially in a state of mourning and some people decided to postpone celebrations such as weddings and baptisms until after the mourning period has passed, local media has reported.