King Harald: Norwegian royal family follows coffin to Royal Palace, tributes pour in, and more updates

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After King Haakon and Princess Ingrid's meeting with government officials, which includes Norway's Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, the ministers will sign the condolence protocol for King Harald V.

Parliament Speaker Masud Gharahkhani will also deliver a memorial speech for the king at the Storting at 12:30.

During a government conference earlier Friday morning, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre told NTB:

"On behalf of the government, I would like to express the sadness and compassion we all feel. There is an entire nation in mourning, and there is also a people in gratitude today.

He then thanked King Harald for his lifelong work and everything he has meant to people across the country, and said he sent his condolences to the royal family.

Jonas continued: "And then it is also a day when we can say: The king is dead, long live the king – We have a new king in King Haakon, and he will be welcomed with Queen Mette-Marit in a way where the people have trust and support throughout these days and the time that lies ahead of us."

At midday, church bells across the country will ring for one hour until 1 pm. At the same time, at midday, the Armed Forces' nine salute stations across the country will fire mourning salutes. They consist of 21 shots at 30-second intervals.

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Not unlike the scenes in the UK in 2022 when Queen Elizabeth II died, Norway will now enter an official period of mourning called national mourning, from the day of the King's death until his funeral.

The national mourning period will also be marked physically by flags being flown at half-mast from royal residences, state buildings and military installations. 

The Norwegian Church will open its doors for those who wish to light candles and be together in mourning. In all the country's cathedrals and in several other churches, there will be an open condolence protocol.

Professional activities will continue as scheduled, with adjustments made to maintain a dignified atmosphere appropriate for national mourning.

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King Haakon has chosen to keep his name, making his official title His Majesty King Haakon VIII.

The King's motto will be the same as King Harald's: "Everything for Norway", which was also the motto of his grandfather and great-grandfather, Haakon, honouring three generations of kings before him. 

King Haakon adopts the same motto as his father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

He keeps his name, and thus receives the title: "His Majesty King Haakon VIII"

Norwegian professional footballer Erling Haaland has shared a moving tribute to King Harald.

Taking to his Instagram account, the Manchester City striker shared a beautiful photograph of the late King on Instagram alongside the words: "Rest in peace, King Harald. Thank you for everything you meant to Norway. It was an honour to meet you."

He added: "Rest in peace, King Harald," in the caption. 

Erling met the late King earlier this year when he hosted a private reception at the Royal Palace in Oslo to celebrate the Norwegian national team's run to the quarterfinals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Inside the palace, Haaland shook hands with the King and spent time with the royal family during a reception before leaving for his summer break. Outside, over 90,000 supporters gathered in Palace Square for the team's official homecoming celebration.

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The royal family of the Netherlands recalled "unforgettable" journeys with King Harald around Oslo and the rest of Norway. "We cherish the memory of our special friendship with him in our hearts. King Harald served his country with love, pride, and conviction," said the family in a statement.

Spain's royal family hailed King Harald as an "example of responsibility, dignity, simplicity, and tireless dedication to the service" of his country. "With respect and admiration for him, as well as deep sadness, we offer our condolences" on the king's death, they wrote on social media.

King Phillipe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium honoured Harald's "humour, humanity and sincerity," which they said, "made him a truly special man."

They added: "Generations of Norwegians grew up with him. For decades, he was a familiar and reassuring presence, a beacon of stability for his country. He fulfilled his role with unwavering dedication, loyalty and dignity," they said in a statement.

French President Emmanuel Macron has sent his condolences to King Haakon and the Norwegian people. He said: "Throughout his reign, he worked tirelessly to strengthen the ties between Norway and France."I will cherish the memory of the warm reception he and Queen Sonja gave my wife and me in Oslo in June 2025.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, in a post on X, called Harald: "A monarch who served his nation with equanimity, authority and a deep sense of institutional duty, helping to strengthen the ties between Norway and Italy throughout his long reign."

The Swiss president Guy Parmelin wrote on X that Harald "will be remembered for his steadfast leadership and devoted service to his country."

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Mette-Marit's new title is now Her Majesty The Queen.

But despite being married to the head of the country, Mette-Marit had a rather unconventional past.

When single mother Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby first fell in love with Crown Prince Haakon, her late father-in-law famously defended her "wild past," praising her as an "extraordinary girl" embarking on an extraordinary life. 

From her admitted 'wild past' and Epstein scandal to ascending the throne, read all about the controversy surrounding Norway's new Queen Mette-Marit in a detailed piece written by our US Royal Correspondent, Alex Hurtado.

Read Alex's full piece here.

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During his meeting with the ministers, King Haakon formally acknowledged his father's passing.

 "It is my duty to inform the Council of State that my dear father, His Majesty King Harald V, died today, August 28, 2026, at 6:35 a.m., and that in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, I have assumed the government as King of Norway," he told the council.

"I will take the name Haakon VIII and will continue the same motto that my father, grandfather and great-grandfather chose: "Everything for Norway"".

At the same time, King Haakon thanked the government and the Norwegian people for their support and compassion for the Royal Family during this time.

This morning, newsreader Petter Oulie-Hauge announced the death of King Harald on NRK, Norway's public broadcaster, and the ascension of his son, the new king.

The announcement followed days of news about Harald's declining condition after he entered hospital on 17 August to receive treatment for a rare blood condition.

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This evening, at 6:30, King Harald's bier - a platform upon which a casket or body rests while lying in state or during a ceremony - will be moved.

The late King will travel from the National Hospital to the Royal Palace, the royal house has shared in a statement. 

King Haakon, Queen Mette-Marit, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Queen Sonja, Prince Sverre Magnus and Princess Märtha Louise follow the bier.

The procession route will be as follows: The chapel at the National Hospital, Klaus Torgårds vei & Sognsveien to Ring 3 to Ring 2 (Kirkeveien), Majorstuen Corridor (Bogstadveien & Hegdehaugsveien), Parkveien to the Royal Palace.

 The route from the hospital to the Royal Palace traces the precise procession path taken on 30 January 1991 to transport the body of King Olav V following his passing at the Royal Lodge.

Shaman Durek, the son-in-law of King Harald, has shared a moving message for the late King.

Sharing HELLO!'s announcement of the Monarch's death, he penned: "Love you dad, I will miss all our fun times together."

In 2025, Durek married Princess Martha Louise, King Harald and Queen Sonja's daughter. Despite some public backlash about the relationship, Harald and Sonja warmly welcomed Durek. 

Queen Sonja delivered a moving speech to welcome Durek into the family. The bride's eldest daughter Maud also shared moving words about how happy she was to have Durek in her life.

In June 2022, Durek proposed in San Juan Capistrano, California, and he recalled being nervous about seeking the blessing of King Harald and Queen Sonja. "I have old school views on courtship, and asking for Märtha's hand in marriage was about respect," he told HELLO!.

"The King and Queen asked me questions about myself and the future, and went quiet for a bit. I was sweating as I waited for their response - and then they turned to me and said they'd love to have me as part of the family," he said.

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Traditionally, as stated on the Norway royal family's website, Article 12 of the Norwegian Constitution of 1814 established that the King was to be crowned and anointed in Nidaros Cathedral.

But, in 1908, the Article on coronation was struck from the Constitution as the coronation ceremony came to be regarded as undemocratic and archaic. The Storting (supreme legislature of Norway), voted by a large majority to repeal the Article.

King Harald V and Queen Sonja continued the consecration tradition in a ceremony at Nidaros Cathedral on 23 June 1991.

After the consecration, the new king and queen made a ten-day tour of Southern Norway, at the end of which they sailed back to Oslo in the Royal Yacht Norge. The following year the entire royal family made a 22-day tour of the four northernmost counties.

Like his late father, during the consecration ceremony, Haakon will take an oath before the Storting, declaring: "I promise and swear that I will govern the Kingdom of Norway in accordance with its Constitution and Laws; so help me God, the Almighty and Omniscient."

Norway's new queen, Mette-Marit, is also expected to be consecrated, following in the footsteps of her mother-in-law Queen Sonja.

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Like King Charles' decision to fly the British flag at half-mast following the death of his second cousin, King Harald, King Frederik X and Queen Mary have done the same.

The Danish flag could be seen flying at half-mast at Amalienborg Palace in Denmark.

This is a tradition that has been honoured since the 17th century. The space left at the top of the flagpole is not just empty space—it is left clear to allow the invisible "flag of death" to fly above. By lowering the physical flag, a nation or institution symbolically defers its authority and "bows its head" to mortality.

Flying one's national flag at half-mast signifies national and royal mourning for a member of the royal family or an allied monarch.

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Both Sweden and Jordan have announced periods of national mourning following King Harald's death.

"On the occasion of the passing of King Harald V of Norway, HM the King has declared a period of mourning at the Swedish court," The Swedish royal family announced on Instagram.  

Adding: "First-degree mourning applies today, tomorrow, and on the day of the funeral. On these days, the flags of the royal palaces will also be flown at half-mast."

The remaining days until the day of the funeral apply to court mourning of the second degree, so-called chamber mourning.

Meanwhile, in Jordan, the royal family have announced a three-day mourning period on their official website.

The statement reads: "The Royal Hashemite Court mourns the passing of King Harald V of Norway, may his soul rest in peace.

"By the command of His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein, the Royal Hashemite Court has announced three days of mourning over King Harald V’s passing, as of Friday, 28 August 2026.

"The Royal Hashemite Court expresses the deepest sympathies of His Majesty and the Jordanian people, as they stand with Norway and its people at this difficult time."

After making its way through Oslo from the hospital, the King's casket arrived at the gates of the palace before 7:10 p.m. local time, and was driven into the grounds as trumpets played.

© Terje Pedersen / NTB / AFP via Getty Images / Norway OUT

Nearly 12 hours after his death, King Harald's body was moved from the hospital. The late monarch left the National Hospital's chapel to begin his journey to the palace in Oslo after 6:30 p.m. local time, with King Haakon, Queen Mette-Marit, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Queen Sonja, Prince Sverre Magnus and Princess Märtha Louise following the procession. 

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Queen Sonja of Norway, looking heartbroken, followed her late husband's coffin to the palace in the back a black car with her daughter, Princess Märtha Louise. King Harald's death came just one day before what would have been his and Sonja's 58th wedding anniversary. 

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In a separate car, King Haakon and Queen Mette-Marit traveled to the palace with their kids, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus.

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Two years ago, the HELLO! team traveled to Norway to cover Princess Märtha Louise and Shaman Durek Verret's wedding. Following King Harald's passing, features contributor Sally Morgan reflected on the late Norwegian monarch, remembering him as an "ecstatic" father of the bride and how he wowed everyone with his rhythm on his daughter's big day.

Read the piece here.

In another Instagram Story post, Durek praised his late father-in-law, describing King Harald as "the most amazing man with a heart of pure gold." An hour earlier, he shared HELLO!'s post, expressing his love for the late monarch. Princess Märtha Louise's husband wrote: "Love you dad I will miss all our fun times together."

Ahead of his and Princess Märtha Louise's wedding in 2024, Durek told HELLO!: "Märtha's family has been very supportive and loving."

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With King Harald's passing, Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf is now the oldest and longest-reigning monarch in Europe. The Swedish royal, who turned 80 in April, ascended the throne on September 15, 1973 at the age of 27. 

After the Norwegian monarch's death on August 28, the King of Sweden issued a statement that read: "It is with great sadness that I have received the news of our dear friend, King Harald’s passing. King Harald’s life story is exceptional. After enduring the hardships of war and exile in his childhood, he was able to return with his family to a free Norway and witness the nation’s remarkable development throughout the twentieth century, before succeeding his father as King of Norway. Both as Head of State and a successful athlete, he was an outstanding representative of his country. He gave 'all for Norway'."

"Throughout the years, King Harald has been a good friend to me, my family, and to Sweden. King Harald is now mourned by many in our country," the statement continued. "Today, my family and I extend our heartfelt condolences to Queen Sonja. I wish my dear Godson Haakon, who now succeeds his father as Head of State, success and good fortune in the important role that lies ahead of him, in service to our brother nation and its people."

Following the passing of King Harald V, Norway’s new Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra will be stepping into a new role, and it's one she's been planning for years.

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Ingrid now leads a remarkable generation of young women preparing to inherit Europe’s thrones, and I'd recommend reading this in-depth feature on Europe's young Princesses and how they're shaping their own paths...

King Harald of Norway lived an incredible life, with over 30 years on the throne.

Our royal team has rounded up the best photos from his reign including a look at the close bond he shared with many of the European monarchs, including the late Queen Elizabeth II.

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In 2024, HELLO! had the world exclusive of the wedding of King Harald's daughter Princess Märtha Louise and Shaman Durek Verrett.

Now, after the news of Harald's passing, our associate editor Sally Morgan has written this beautiful tribute to the man she met that weekend - a father of the bride who happily shimmyed down the aisle to a gospel choir singing Stevie Wonder's "As" for his daughter.