Norway’s Royal Family will remain in official mourning for more
than a month following the death of King Harald V, with the Court
confirming that almost all official engagements will be cancelled
during the period.
The Royal House announced on September 2 that court mourning
will continue until October 9, one month after King Harald’s
funeral.
During the mourning period, the Royal Family and members of the
Royal Court staff will wear dark clothing or uniforms with mourning
bands, while public activities at the royal properties will also be
closed.
Almost all official programmes have been cancelled, although
constitutional duties will continue.
These include meetings of the Council of State, the formal
opening of the Storting and selected audiences. The decision means
that while the new King, Haakon VIII, has begun carrying out the
duties of the Norwegian Crown, the public-facing programme of the
Royal House will remain largely suspended.
King Harald died peacefully at Rikshospitalet in Oslo on August
28 at 6:35am, aged 89, after his health deteriorated during a
prolonged hospital stay.
His death brought an end to a 35-year reign and marked one of
the most significant moments in modern Norwegian royal history.
His only son immediately succeeded him as King Haakon VIII,
while Princess Ingrid Alexandra, the King’s eldest child, became
first in line to the throne.
The country remains in a wider period of national mourning,
which was declared by the Norwegian Government from the day of
Harald’s death until after his funeral.
King Harald’s funeral will take place at Oslo Cathedral on
September 9, with the service beginning at 1pm.
The Royal House has now confirmed that its own period of court
mourning will continue for a further month after that ceremony.
After October 9, official royal duties will gradually
resume.
However, the Court has made clear that visits and activities in
Norway and overseas which had been planned during King Harald’s
reign have generally been cancelled rather than simply
postponed.
The Royal House’s official programme will therefore be rebuilt,
with engagements rescheduled as the new reign takes shape.
