Norwegians gather at Oslo palace to mourn King Harald V
Tens of thousands of people laid flowers and condolence cards at the royal palace in Oslo on the second day of mourning for the late King Harald V, while officials prepared for the new king's first public duties.
Oslo – On Saturday, a large crowd assembled on Slottsplassen, the square in front of the royal palace, to lay flowers and condolence cards for the late King Harald V, who died at age 89 the previous day. Palace staff removed bouquets from the south side of the building to keep walkways clear and dried wet cards after a rainstorm so the messages could be preserved.
Across Norway, churches and municipal buildings opened their doors for citizens to light candles and sign condolence books. The king’s coffin had arrived at the palace on Friday evening from the National Hospital in Oslo.
"It’s special, intimate, and lovely. I’m placing my right hand on my chest in gratitude to him and the royal family," said 46-year-old Roni Ervik, who was representing his family from western Norway.
Crown Prince Haakon, 53, succeeded his father as King Haakon VIII and is expected to address the nation in his first speech later Saturday or in the coming days. He will meet with the speaker of parliament, the chief justice of the Supreme Court and the presiding bishop of the Lutheran Church, while Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra is also slated to attend.
A choir was scheduled to perform in the palace square, and the nation remains in an official period of mourning, with some families postponing weddings and baptisms. No funeral date has been announced.
The Norwegian monarchy, a symbolic institution since the country’s 1905 independence, continues to play a public-relations role for the nation.