King Harald V of Norway died on Friday at age 89, becoming the dean among European monarchs and a monarch dearly loved by his compatriots, who called him "the grandfather." Cathedrals throughout Norway held religious services on Saturday in his honor, bidding farewell to the monarch who ruled for more than three decades.
The remains were transferred on Friday to the cathedral and the Royal Palace in Oslo, where public broadcaster NRK broadcast throughout the day images from these locations, as well as the numerous tributes taking place throughout the Nordic country, with 5.5 million inhabitants.
The mourning for the king goes beyond protocol, taking on the character of saying goodbye to a beloved family member, with private messages of affection and seas of flowers spread throughout Norwegian territory. As Harald V said during his lifetime, Norwegians often live dispersed or in remote areas, but they know how to demonstrate a strong sense of unity.
With the death of Harald V, his son, Crown Prince Haakon, assumes as the new king of Norway at a moment of profound national emotion, with the entire country paying tribute to the monarch who will remain forever in the collective memory of Norwegians.
