Norway woke up to a new reign this morning as King Harald died in the early hours with the throne immediately passing to his only son who is now King Haakon VIII.
King Harald had been ill for several days with his doctors announcing a deterioration just hours before he passed away.
People had gone to the Royal Palace in Oslo as news of Harald’s illness spread and there was a large crowd there, lighting candles, when his death was announced.
For a whole generation, Harald V was the only monarch they had ever known.
With the king passing away as dawn broke, many people woke up to find out they were living in a brand new reign.
The new king is Haakon VIII. He is the only son of Harald V and his wife, Queen Sonja.
The throne instantly passed to Haakon who entered the Rikshospitalet in Oslo last night to keep vigil with his father as Crown Prince and walked out, just twelve hours later, as King of Norway.
The country also has a new consort. Haakon’s controversial wife is now Queen Mette-Marit of Norway.
In the past months it has been revealed that Queen Mette-Marit had once had a friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. Her interview explaining that caused further anger as she was accused of not taking responsibility for the situation. Since then, her son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Hoiby, has been convicted of rape and is now serving his four year sentence under house arrest.
Earlier this summer, Queen Mette-Marit underwent a lung transplant from which she is still recovering.
The eldest child of King Haakon and Queen Mette-Marit becomes heir to the throne and she is the first woman to hold the role automatically. The 22 year old is Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra and first in line to the throne.
King Haakon, who hasn’t slept, will now meet the government face to face within hours.
King Harald’s wife, Queen Sonja, is mourning her husband of 58 years. She was with him in the hours before his death. She remains Queen Sonja.
King Harald also leaves a daughter, Princess Martha Louse. He had five grandchildren in total.
