Following the announcement of King Harald V’s passing on Friday, thousands of Norwegians left homes, schools, and workplaces to assemble in solemn tribute outside the Royal Palace in Oslo.
Some wept, while others embraced one another. Many placed flowers on the palace grounds leading to its arched entrance, where flags were lowered to half‑mast. A gray sky, a contrast to the week’s unusually bright weather, seemed to mirror the nation’s somber mood.
“I never imagined I would feel this deeply saddened,” said Shain Thomas Jellum Gundhus, a 45‑year‑old artist dressed in black as she placed red roses at the palace. “He was absolutely wonderful.”
Many of those gathered described the monarch as a unifying force who helped hold a rapidly changing Norway together. Harald had reigned since 1991, serving largely in a ceremonial capacity during a period of economic growth and increasing cultural diversity. Yet his household also endured several high‑profile scandals involving royal family members.
Even until his death at age 89, he remained a popular figure, though support for the monarchy had gradually waned amid recurring scandals that generated unfavorable headlines.
On Friday, mourners recalled how Harald had used his platform to promote a more inclusive Norway. Several attendees referenced a 2016 speech in which he articulated a vision of Norwegian identity. “Nordic people are girls who love girls, boys who love boys,” he said. “Norwegians believe in God, Allah, everything and nothing.”
Lawmaker Kamzy Gunaratnam, who arrived in Norway as a refugee from Sri Lanka in childhood, posted a tribute on social media: “He put into words what kind of Norway he wanted us to be.”
Harald was the first Norwegian‑born monarch since the 14th century; Norway had gained independence in 1905 after earlier unions with Denmark and Sweden. His marriage to Sonja Haraldsen, the daughter of a clothing merchant without royal lineage, cemented the family’s Norwegian roots.
When Harald ascended the throne at age 53, he promptly opened the palace and other royal buildings to the public. This summer, the palace grounds hosted a celebration following Norway’s surprising run to the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals, and a visibly frail Harald greeted the team.
Fredrik Hognerud Traeland, 40, who also gathered outside the palace, recalled the scene: “He was no longer able to stand, but he was determined to greet them as upright as he could,” Mr. Traeland said.
In times of national upheaval, the king provided a sense of stability, many recalled. During the 2011 terrorist attack in which a neo‑Nazi extremist killed 77 people, Harald’s public tears at a memorial service offered a rare, human moment that many found comforting.
Lisbeth Kristine Royneland, 68, who leads a support group for grieving families following the 2011 attack, said, “When he cried, the atmosphere was so powerful.” She added, “He has been an incredibly sympathetic and wonderful king, and the grandfather of all Norway.”
Turid Haugvik, a 49‑year‑old sales assistant from central Norway, said she had watched the extensive news coverage of the king’s death. “Whenever something happened in our little country of Norway, both painful and joyful, he showed that he was one of us,” she said in a phone interview.
Recent years have seen crises within the royal family that have threatened the monarchy’s future. Harald’s son, Crown Prince Haakon, will succeed him as king, and beside him will stand his wife, Mette‑Marit, who has been at the center of several palace scandals.
The couple worked to overcome early public scrutiny over Mette‑Marit’s background as a divorced single mother when they married in 2001. Their reputation suffered a severe blow this year after revelations of her friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, whom she referred to as “my crazy friend” in emails. Historians have described the fallout as arguably the worst crisis the royal family has faced since the dynasty’s founding in 1905.
King Harald’s eldest child, Princess Martha Louise, withdrew from royal duties in 2022 after her relationship with American celebrity shaman Durek Verrett attracted negative publicity. Their lavish, Netflix‑documented wedding in 2024 was widely criticized as tacky.
The controversies have tarnished the royal family’s public image. A poll conducted for Norway’s national broadcaster revealed that support for the monarchy fell to 64 % in May, down from 81 % in 2017.
Therese Askerud, a nurse, gathered flowers from a community garden to lay at the memorial on Friday. “It will be a period of transition for all of us,” said Ms. Askerud, 51. “Not least for our new king, who will be grieving his father’s loss while also navigating the turmoil his family has faced.”
Jeffrey Gettleman contributed reporting.