Norway Mourns King Harald While Haakon VIII Takes the Crown
In the wake of the passing of Europe's oldest reigning monarch, King Harald V, his 53-year-old son has officially taken the throne as King Haakon VIII of Norway. King Harald died peacefully at the age of 89 due to hemolytic anemia at the Oslo University Hospital on August 28, 2026 . Tens of thousands of citizens gathered outside the Royal Palace in Oslo to lay flowers and light candles, entering a period of profound national mourning for a beloved ruler who advocated for inclusion throughout his 35-year reign. Under Norway's constitutional monarchy, the crown was transferred immediately upon King Harald's death. King Haakon VIII, accompanied by his 22-year-old daughter, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, formally informed the government during an extraordinary Council of State. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre delivered a public address stating that "an era has ended," commending the late king's warmth, humor, and unifying presence. The mourning even resulted in...