People queue to enter the Royal Palace Chapel to pay their respects to late King Harald, during his lying in state at the Royal Palace, in Oslo, Norway, on September 2, 2026.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
“Norway’s new King Haakon VIII on Wednesday (September 2, 2026) declared a period of mourning for the royal court following the death of his father, resulting in the cancellation of most royal activities until October 9,” the palace said.
Haakon’s father king Harald V died on Friday (August 28, 2026) morning at the age of 89 at the Oslo University Hospital, where he was being treated for haemolytic anaemia, a condition caused by an abnormally rapid destruction of red blood cells.
Having become king upon his father’s death, Haakon on Tuesday (September 1, 2026) swore an oath in Parliament to abide by the country’s constitution, under which the royals have a primarily symbolic function.
“In connection with the death of King Harald, His Majesty King Haakon VIII declares a period of court mourning up to and including October 9,” the palace said in a statement on Wednesday (September 2, 2026).
“Court mourning means that the royal family cancels its entire official programme, except for constitutional obligations such as meetings of the Council of State, the formal opening of Parliament and certain audiences,” the palace explained.
Harald’s funeral will be held on September 9, 2026 at Oslo Cathedral. He will then be laid to rest in the royal mausoleum at Akershus Fortress in the Norwegian capital. Since Tuesday, thousands have lined up outside the Royal Palace’s chapel where Harald is lying in state and will do so until the day before the funeral.
Published – September 02, 2026 06:40 pm IST
