King Haakon VIII leads family to memorial service as Norway mourns father Harald V
King Haakon VIII, now 53, vowed to be 'present and attentive' and declared unity his central mission as his daughter Ingrid Alexandra became heir to the Norwegian throne.Tens of thousands of Norwegians brought flowers to Slottsplassen square as King Haakon VIII adopted the motto 'All for Norway', inherited from his great-grandfather.
Norway's new King Haakon VIII fought back tears alongside Queen Sonja and Crown Princess Ingrid at Asker Church on Sunday, the day after he delivered his first televised address as monarch. Harald V died at 89 on Friday following treatment for haemolytic anaemia; a cousin of King Charles III, he had reigned for 35 years, making him Europe's longest-serving monarch. Flowers and candles continue to accumulate outside the Royal Palace in Oslo, where Harald's coffin lies in state.
'Congratulations on your wedding anniversary, dear Mummy,' Haakon said, voice breaking — Saturday marked Harald and Queen Sonja's 58th anniversary.
Haakon pledged to 'risk everything, even one's life, for Norway's freedom and independence' and took the motto 'All for Norway'.
No funeral date has been confirmed; some Norwegians are delaying weddings and christenings until the period of mourning has passed.
