- Commemorative ceremonies were held across Norway on 30 August 2026 in tribute to King Harald V, who died two days earlier.
- The new monarch Haakon VIII attended a church service in Asker surrounded by members of the Royal Family.
- Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced that the sovereign’s burial would take place two weeks after his death.
Commemorative ceremonies held across the country
Two days after the monarch’s death, Norway paid tribute to King Harald V this Sunday, 30 August 2026, during several religious ceremonies. At Asker Church, south of Oslo, the new sovereign Haakon VIII attended the service accompanied by Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Prince Sverre Magnus, and Queen Sonja. His wife, Queen Mette-Marit, was absent due to health reasons related to her recovery from a lung transplant and could not join the Royal Family. At Oslo Cathedral, hundreds of citizens and members of the government gathered to pay their respects. During her sermon, Bishop Sunniva Gylver praised the late monarch’s unifying role in the face of contemporary tensions and crises. The sovereign passed away after a 35-year reign, marked by strong popularity among the population despite recent family controversies.
Swearing-in and funeral schedule
This day of tribute opens a period of national mourning before the official start of the new reign. King Haakon VIII will swear an oath of allegiance to the Constitution on Tuesday. In accordance with Norwegian institutional rules, no coronation ceremony will take place, as this practice was abolished in 1908. However, the new 53-year-old monarch may request a blessing at Trondheim Cathedral, following the tradition established by his predecessors. Regarding the funeral of Harald V, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre specified that the final ceremony would take place two weeks after his death, with the exact date to be announced shortly by the Palace. Hospitalised since 17 August for haemolytic anaemia, Harald V had reaffirmed until the end of his life his wish not to abdicate.
