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King Haakon VIII of Norway pays tribute to his late father, King Harald V, during a national period of mourning.

King Haakon VIII of Norway delivered his first official address as monarch, honoring the late King Harald V, who died at age 89. During a televised speech, King Haakon VIII praised his father as a devoted family man and a reformer who remained committed to his values and duties. The late king, who served on the throne for over three decades, was known for leading a modern and modest monarchy. Norway is currently in a state of national mourning, with tens of thousands of citizens laying flowers and tributes at the royal palace in Oslo. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre confirmed that the burial will take place in calendar week 37. While the role of the Norwegian monarchy is largely symbolic, King Haakon VIII expressed a commitment to upholding the country's constitutional principles and democracy. The new king faces the task of shoring up support for the monarchy following recent scrutiny regarding his wife, Queen Mette-Marit, and her past ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

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