Norway awaits new king's speech to the people
Norway's new King Haakon VIII with his daughter Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra at the extraordinary council with the government on Friday. Now Norway is waiting for the king's first speech to the people as regent. Photo: Lise Åserud/NTB/TT
Norwegians are mourning the death of King Harald while the country's new monarch King Haakon VIII takes the first steps in his new role.
Within the next few days, King Haakon is expected to address the nation, perhaps as early as Saturday.
The government has declared a national mourning in Norway. Condolences books are being placed all over the country, where the public will have the opportunity to write a final greeting to King Harald, who died on Friday, aged 89, writes NTB. There is also a digital condolence book on the royal house's website.
Taking the royal oath
At Oslo City Hall, Mayor Anne Lindboe is expected to be among the first to write a greeting. She was supposed to marry her fiancé Pål Sandvid on Saturday, but has postponed the wedding due to the king's death.
Haakon VIII is due to give his first speech to the nation as regent in the next few days. This could happen as early as Saturday, according to media reports.
53-year-old Haakon became King of Norway at the same time as his father Harald died, but on Tuesday he will take the royal oath before the Storting, the Norwegian parliament. Norwegian kings are also traditionally blessed in a church service, but there has been no coronation since 1906.
Farewell at the coffin
The Norwegian court has not yet announced a date for the funeral. King Harald's coffin is now in the Palace Chapel, where the public will be able to parade past and say goodbye. In Stockholm, a memorial service will be held at the Norwegian Church on Södermalm on Sunday.
King Haakon and his daughter, the 22-year-old new Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, met with the government in an extraordinary council on Friday. On Saturday, they will hold an audience with high-ranking representatives of Norwegian society – including the Speaker of the Storting, the leading bishop of the church and the president of the Supreme Court.
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