King Haakon VIII pays emotional tribute to late father in first address
Norway's new monarch King Haakon VIII has given his first address, paying tribute to his late father King Harald V, as the nation continues to mourn.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
King Harald V of Norway has died at the age of 89, ending a 35-year reign that made him Europe's oldest living monarch. He was succeeded by his son, who has taken the throne as King Haakon VIII. The new king gave his first address from the Royal Palace in Oslo, paying an emotional tribute to his father and promising to preserve his legacy. He adopted the historic family motto 'All for Norway', the same used by his father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
Harald died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital after being admitted for treatment for a rare blood condition. His death was announced by the Royal Palace, triggering a period of national mourning. Thousands of Norwegians gathered outside the palace to lay flowers and pay their respects, with many describing him as 'the whole country's grandfather'. He was remembered as a modernising monarch who broke tradition by marrying a commoner, Queen Sonja, and who helped unite the nation after the 2011 terror attack that killed 77 people.
Tributes came from across Europe, including from King Charles, who described him as a 'towering figure' and a 'much loved kinsman'. Sweden's King Carl Gustaf also offered condolences. The new king, Haakon VIII, faces significant challenges. His wife, Queen Mette-Marit, has faced scrutiny over her past contacts with Jeffrey Epstein, and his stepson, Marius Borg Høiby, was convicted of rape. His sister, Princess Märtha Louise, has also attracted attention for marrying an American self-styled shaman. Despite these controversies, the new king has promised to serve the nation, saying 'May God save our nation' in his first address.
Services have been held across Norway, and the date of the funeral has not yet been announced.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC News | BBC One | Channel 4 | ITV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King Harald of Norway died at age 89 after being hospitalized; he had reigned for 35 years. | |||||
| King Harald was Europe's oldest living monarch. | · | · | |||
| Marius Borg Høiby was convicted of rape and is appealing. | · | · | |||
| Thousands of people queued to lay flowers and cannons fired in tribute in Oslo. | · | · | |||
| Crown Princess Mette-Marit apologized for her friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. | · | · | · | ||
| Harald married commoner Sonja after dating secretly for almost a decade. | · | · | · | ||
| Harald was taken to hospital for treatment for a rare blood condition. | · | · | · | ||
| Ingrid Alexandra, daughter of Haakon, became Crown Princess of Norway. | · | · | · | ||
| King Charles sent condolences to the Norwegian royal family. | · | · | · | ||
| King Harald was moved to tears at a memorial for the 2011 massacre victims. | · | · | · | ||
| Princess Marta Louise married an American conspiracy theorist and self-styled shaman. | · | · | · | ||
| Scandals have tainted the royal family, including Crown Princess Mette-Marit's friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and her son's conviction for rape. | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
ITV1 focused on the public mourning and the emotional connection Norwegians felt with King Harald, describing him as a unifying leader. The report highlighted the crowds, the flowers, and the sense of loss, while also noting the new king's sister's controversial marriage. The tone was respectful and sentimental, emphasising the king's role as a national figure.
- “A national period of mourning is underway in Norway following the death of King Harald. Thousands gathered in the capital Oslo to lay flowers and pay their respects to a unifying leader who was on the throne for 35 years.”
- “He was until yesterday Europe's oldest reigning sovereign.”
- “King Harald was a second cousin of Queen Elizabeth and his death was felt beyond Norway's borders too.”
BBC NEWS provided extensive live coverage, including the succession ceremony, the new king's first address, and analysis of the challenges ahead. It balanced the obituary of Harald with the scandals surrounding the royal family, and included reactions from mourners and the prime minister. The tone was factual and comprehensive, with a focus on the transition of power.
- “Norway has a new king King Haakon the eighth he succeeds his father King Harald the fifth who died earlier today”
- “Until his death King Harald who was 89 was Europe's oldest living monarch on the throne since 1991”
- “The king is dead long live the king. Live Kongen.”
5 News gave a brief, factual announcement of King Harald's death, focusing on the official statement from the Royal Palace and the condolences from King Charles. It did not delve into the succession or the scandals, serving as a straightforward news bulletin.
- “Norway's King Harald V has died at the age of 89. The Royal Palace in Oslo said he passed away peacefully at their national hospital, where he was receiving treatment for a rare blood condition.”
- “King Charles, who was his cousin, said he has extended his deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the Norwegian royal family.”
BBC ONE West provided a detailed obituary of King Harald, emphasising his modernising influence and his personal popularity. It also highlighted the challenges facing the new king, including the scandals involving his wife and stepson, and the sister's controversial marriage. The tone was respectful but also analytical about the monarchy's future.
- “Tributes have been paid to Norway's King Harald the fifth who's died at the age of 89”
- “He was everything for us, especially being immigrant. He made us feel home and he made us feel loved.”
- “The new king's sister, Princess Marta Louise, also attracted tabloid attention by marrying an American conspiracy theorist and self-styled shaman.”
Channel 4 took a more critical angle, focusing on the controversies surrounding the royal family and the challenges facing the new king. It highlighted the Epstein connection and the stepson's rape conviction, and questioned the monarchy's reputation. The report was more analytical and less sentimental than other channels.
- “Outside the royal palace in Oslo, the people of Norway gathered to warn King Harald V.”
- “He was widely known as the People's King.”
- “The reputation of the Norwegian royal family has taken a severe hit in the last couple of years.”
Broadcast Timeline
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