Norway’s new king pays tribute to his late father as the country mourns

By Al Jazeera Staff and AFP. Published On 29 Aug 202629 Aug 2026.

Key points

• In his speech, Haakon remarked he and his wife, Queen Mette-Marit, and his daughter, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, would be present and listening.
• King Harald died on Friday at age 89 after 35 years as monarch.
• Haakon is due to take an oath to defend Norway's constitution and laws before the legislature on Tuesday.
• Tens of thousands of individuals gathered outside the royal palace in Oslo to pay their respects.
• He becomes king after controversy surrounding his wife's relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Meanwhile, the new monarch of Norway, King Haakon VIII, has praised his late father, King Harald, for how he represented Norwegians, and promised to offer everything for the country as king.

King Haakon offered his first speech as king on Saturday. It was aired live on television, a day after his father's death.

"We are in mourning. As documented by Norway's public broadcaster NRK, meanwhile, it brings us comfort and strength to know that so plenty of are mourning with us, " he stated.

King Harald died on Friday at age 89 after 35 years as monarch. He suffered from haemolytic anaemia. It causes fatigue and shortness of breath.

"As king, my father represented Norway and the Norwegian people with pride and joy, through visits around the country, at events here at the royal palace, and while working on Norway's behalf around the world, " Haakon remarked.

Tens of thousands of individuals gathered outside the royal palace in Oslo to pay their respects. Haakon thanked the public, saying it had been "a powerful and moving experience to see the Palace Square filled with people, flowers, messages of condolence, and candles."

In practice, the administration has declared a national mourning period. It will last until after the funeral. A date has not yet been confirmed, but the Church of Norway will hold memorial services nationwide on Sunday. In churches and city halls around Norway, individuals came to write in condolence books and light candles.

"We believe in our popular administration – and in democracy. We believe in a society built on law and justice – and where everyone is of equal value, " he remarked.

He becomes king after controversy surrounding his wife's relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Haakon's stepson, Marius Borg Hoiby, was additionally identified guilty of rape, domestic violence other charges and sentenced to four years in prison in June.

Taken together, the developments around norway's new king pays tribute to his late father as the country point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.