OSLO, Norway (AP) — Tens of thousands of mourners paid their respects to Norway’s King Harald V on Saturday, placing flowers and condolence cards in front of the royal palace in Oslo a day after the monarch died at the age of 89. A sea of colorful flowers covered Slottsplassen, the square in front of the palace, as a steady stream of Norwegians filed by. A palace gardener removed some bouquets on the south side of the palace to keep pathways clear, Norwegian broadcaster NRK reported. Palace workers also collected cards and dried them after a nightly downpour to keep mourners’ messages for posterity, NRK reported.“It’s special, intimate, and lovely. I’m placing my right hand on my chest in gratitude to him and the royal family,” Roni Ervik, 46, told NRK as he paid his respects. He said he was also paying tribute to the late king on behalf of his family, who are from western Norway.
Harald V died Friday morning and Crown Prince Haakon, 53, became King Haakon VIII.Haakon adopted the motto “All for Norway,” which dates back to his great-grandfather. His wife became Queen Mette-Marit, while his oldest child became Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra and the heir to the throne.Haakon knows his royal obligations. As his father aged and his health began to fail in recent years, he stepped in as the country’s regent on several occasions.
