The new king of Norway, Haakon VIII, attended a mass this Sunday in memory of his father, King Harald, who passed away on Friday, in an event similar to those held in churches across the country.
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Haakon, 53 years old, went to the church in Asker, south of Oslo, along with his daughter, the crown princess Ingrid Alexandra, and his son, prince Sverre Magnus, as well as his mother, Queen Sonia.
His wife, Queen Mette-Marit, was not present because she is still recovering from the lung transplant she underwent in June.
National mourning has been declared throughout the country and it has been announced that the funeral will be next Wednesday, September 9.
This Sunday, masses in memory of the late sovereign were organized throughout the country, and near Oslo Cathedral, where government representatives attended, hundreds of people lined up early to secure a seat.
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In her sermon, Bishop Sunniva Gylver highlighted King Harald’s ability to bring some comfort in a world ravaged by wars, climate change, and growing polarization.
“King Harald highlighted several of these challenges in his speeches, and by doing so he gave us the opportunity to talk together about big and important things,” said the bishop at Oslo Cathedral.
King Haakon will take the oath on Tuesday in Parliament
King Haakon will take the oath next Tuesday in Parliament. However, he and Queen Mette-Marit are not expected to be crowned, as Norway abolished coronations in 1908.
But, like his father and grandfather, Haakon could opt for a consecration ceremony at Trondheim Cathedral, where Norwegian monarchs were crowned between 1814 and 1906.
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