Memorial service held for King Harald

The Norwegian Royal Family attended a memorial service in memory of the late King Harald on Sunday. 

King Haakon was joined by his children and mother this morning at a church service two days after the death of his father, King Harald. Queen Sonja, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus were all somber as they arrived to Asker Church, southwest of Oslo, while many Norwegians queued in lines at memorial services across Norway.

Yesterday evening, King Haakon addressed the nation for the first time as sovereign. The King paid tribute to his father saying in part, “I will miss him. I will miss his laugh. His warm way of meeting people and situations. My father always made people around him relax,” at a desk adorned with a photograph of King Harald. 

Succession is immediate in Norway — Haakon became King the moment his father died on Friday morning. Thousands of people have flocked to the Palace Square (Slottsplassen) to express their grief and show support for the Royal Family. Many regarded King Harald as the “grandfather of the nation” which is clear by the amount of flowers and cards left in his memory. 

Queen Mette-Marit was absent from Sunday morning’s church service. The Royal Court said that as Her Majesty is still recovering from her lung transplant in June, the Queen “has [a] limited opportunity to participate” in official engagements. Mette-Marit will “nevertheless be present at certain other events in connection with the passing of King Harald,” the Court confirms.

The Royal News Organisation will keep you up to date with all the events around the ceremonies commemorating the life of King Harald V.