Monarch’s death comes at turbulent time for royal family over association of crown princess with Jeffrey Epstein

King Harald V of Norway, Europe’s oldest reigning monarch, has died aged 89, the royal palace in Oslo has announced. He was succeeded immediately by his son, King Haakon VIII.

“It is with deep sadness that we announce that His Majesty King Harald passed away today. King Harald passed away peacefully at Oslo University hospital on Friday 28 August at 6.35am,” the palace said in a statement.

The new king, whose wife, Mette-Marit, has recently come under scrutiny over scandals including a much-criticised association with the late US child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, formally notified the government of his father’s death on Friday.

As crowds gathered outside the royal palace to pay their respects, the government announced a period of national mourning. Flags around the country were lowered to half mast and church bells rang out at midday.

Haakon, 53, formally told government ministers of his father’s death at an extraordinary council of state on Friday morning. As expected, he said he would take the name Haakon VIII, and he chose the personal motto: “Everything for Norway”.

The new king will swear an oath of accession in parliament within the next few days. Coronation ceremonies were abolished in Norway more than a century ago, but Haakon could choose to have his reign blessed at a consecration ceremony.

The palace had said on Thursday that Harald’s health had deteriorated and that the king, who was seen as a unifying figure and a force for stability amid a string of recent family scandals, was in an “extremely serious” condition.

Norway’s prime minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, said he had received the news “with deep sadness”. “A whole nation is in mourning, and ⁠the people of Norway are left with a ​deep sense of ‌gratitude for a ‌long life in the service of Norway,” he said.

Source: theguardian