Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon became King Haakon VIII on Friday (August 28) following the death of his father King Harald, with mourners gathering outside the Royal Palace in Oslo to pay their respects and express confidence in the new monarch.

People laid flowers, lit candles and left messages of support as they reflected on the transition from the beloved late king to his son.

"In Norway, we say, our king is dead and live the king. And now it's King Haakon and he's a very nice man. We like him a lot," said Elisabet Salthe from Stavanger.

Jan Erik Nilsen, also from Stavanger, said he was confident that the new monarch would take very good care of the Norwegian kingdom, describing him as open to people and smiling.

"We believe in him," he said.

The 52-year-old Haakon comes to the throne as two major scandals have affected his family. His wife Crown Princess Mette-Marit was linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein through email correspondence revealed in U.S. Justice Department files, while her son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Hoiby, was sentenced to four years in prison for rape and domestic violence charges.

Despite these challenges, mourners expressed optimism about the new reign. "He will do the same good work, using the same good words and the same actions as his father, but in his way," said Oslo resident Gry Thune Young as she prepared to lay roses at the palace.

Haakon became Norway's fourth king in the modern era — which started when the country voted in a referendum to become a monarchy rather than a republic on declaring full independence from Sweden in 1905.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Norwegians welcome new king, expect continuity

VIDEO SHOWS: EXTERIORS OF PALACE / PEOPLE GATHERED OUTSIDE ROYAL PALACE / PEOPLE COMMENTING ON NEW KING HAAKON AND LATE KING HARALD

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: OSLO, NORWAY (AUGUST 28, 2026)(REUTERS – Access all)

1. PEOPLE GATHERED OUTSIDE ROYAL PALACE

2. PEOPLE WALKING TOWARDS ROYAL PALACE

3. PEOPLE GATHERED OUTSIDE ROYAL PALACE

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) STAVANGER RESIDENT, ELISABET SALTHE, SAYING:

"In Norway, we say, our king is dead and live the king. And now it's King Haakon and he's a very nice man. We like him a lot. And of course, it's going to be some special days and weeks here in Norway now, but that's life. And he was a grown-up man, 89 years. And everyone loves him because he (was) including everyone. Everyone."

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) STAVANGER RESIDENT, JAN ERIK NILSEN, SAYING:

"He (King Haakon) is a modern man. He will take very (good) care of the Norwegian Kingdom, and he will also include in the same way that his father. And we believe in him. He also has an attitude that is meeting the people. We see it (in) the way he talks, and he is a smiling man. He's very close, you see on the football Master (World) Cup, he was going out here. As the crown prince, he was full of joy, and he was rowing and all. So we are, yes, in these sad days, we are looking forward to getting King Haakon as our new king, following in the footsteps of his father. So we believe in him."

6. WOMAN SITTING BY FLOWERS AND CARDS

7. FLOWERS AND CARDS

8. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LAYING FLOWERS

9. OSLO RESIDENT, GRY THUNE YOUNG STANDING WITH BOUQUET OF ROSES

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) OSLO RESIDENT, GRY THUNE YOUNG, SAYING:

"He will do the same good work, using the same good words and the same actions as his father, but in his way."

11. YOUNG HOLDING ROSES, READING OUT MESSAGE ON CARD: "And we wish you the best for your journey."

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) OSLO RESIDENT, GRY THUNE YOUNG, SAYING:

"And all my thoughts go to the Queen. I'm a widower myself, and to the family."

13. PEOPLE WALKING TOWARDS ROYAL PALACE

14. OSLO RESIDENT, CHRISTIAN NARVESTAD WALKING TOWARDS PALACE

15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) OSLO RESIDENT, CHRISTIAN NARVESTAD, SAYING:

"The people love our king, our late king, and I hope to get the new king the same support from Norwegian people."

16. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LAYING FLOWERS

17. FRAME PHOTOGRAPH OF LATE KING HARALD, FLOWERS AROUND

18. PEOPLE LIGHTING CANDLES

19. (SOUNDBITE) (English) OSLO RESIDENT, JORUNN BOTTOLFS, SAYING:

"He's (King Haakon) a really good guy. He's a really wonderful guy. We have had really good kings. Olav died in '91 and Harald today. And we will have a new king who is really good as well."

20. PEOPLE GATHERED OUTSIDE PALACE

21. FLOWERS AND CARDS

22. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LAYING FLOWERS

23. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SITTING IN SILENCE ON STEPS