King Harald's funeral date is revealed by palace - as tens of thousands pay tribute to Norway's late monarch

The details of King Harald V's funeral have been revealed by the Norwegian Palace as tens of thousands continue to pay tribute to the late monarch. Harald, who is a cousin of King Charles III, died on Friday aged 89 following a hospital admission in Oslo where he was being treated for haemolytic anaemia, a disorder causing red blood cells to be destroyed at an abnormally fast rate. In a statement released by the Palace on Sunday evening, it was confirmed Harald - who ruled Norway for 35 years - will be laid to rest on Wednesday, September 9 at Oslo Cathedral.The funeral service, to begin at 1pm, will be led by the president of the Church of Norway, Olav Fykse Tveit. It is expected that world leaders and royalty from across the globe will be in attendance. The late monarch's passing was announced on Friday by Norway's Royal Court in a statement reading: 'It is with deep sorrow that we announce that His Majesty King Harald has passed away.'King Harald died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet Friday 28 August at 6:35 AM.' Harald, who is survived by his wife, Queen Sonja, was succeeded almost immediately by his son, 53-year-old King Haakon VIII. He and other senior members of the Norwegian Royal Family rushed to King Harald's bedside at the national hospital in Oslo on Thursday after his health 'deteriorated' as a result of an infection. Funeral arrangements for King Harald of Norway, have been confirmed by the Norwegian Royal Palace. Harald died on Friday aged 89 after a brief stay in hospital Norway's new King Haakon VIII (pictured) made his first official speech to the nation on Saturday, in which he described Harald as 'such a good father', and a 'loving and thoughtful husband' A gallery of photos of the Norwegian Royal Family are displayed in the Hall of Mirrors at the Royal Palace, where Haakon gave his first speech as monarch Tributes to King Harald have poured in from across Norway (Pictured: Flowers and candle tributes to the late king at the Palace Square)On Saturday evening, the new king paid tribute to his late father in his first official speech as monarch, in which he thanked Harald 'for everything he was and everything he did'.Wearing a sombre black suit and sat beside a picture of Harald, King Haakon described him as 'such a good father', and a 'loving and thoughtful husband'.He said: 'As king, my father represented Norway and the Norwegian people with pride and joy, through visits around the country, at events here at the royal palace, and while working on Norway's behalf around the world.'I'm going to miss him. I'll miss his laughter. His good-natured way of dealing with people and situations.'King Haakon's first official address to the nation came as tributes to his father poured in all weekend.On Friday, thousands of mourners descended on Oslo to pay their respects to the late king, placing flowers, flags and condolence cards outside the Royal Palace. Flags were flying at half-mast throughout the country, as portraits of Harald in gala uniform were displayed everywhere, from metro stations to public buildings.Churches and city halls were also opened specially so people could light candles, and write their thoughts about the deceased king in condolence books. Hundreds of people gathered on the Palace Square after the bier with King Harald drove in a procession from the chapel at the National Hospital through Oslo Norway's Royal Palace lowers a flag to half-mast following King Harald's death Lighted candles and flowers were laid in front of the palace across the weekend Flowers and children's drawing lay outside the Royal Palace square as mourners gathered to pay tribute Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere was seen looking at floral tributes outside the Royal Palace following the death of King Harald Presiding Bishop of the Church of Norway Olav Fykse Tveit was pictured laying flowers at the Palace Square King Charles III extended his 'deepest and most heartfelt condolences' to the Norwegian Royal Family on Friday following the death of his 'dear cousin'. The pair were second cousins once removed, sharing great-great-grandparents Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark. He said: 'As Norway mourns the loss of so towering a figure, my whole family join in remembering a much-loved kinsman and friend whose kindness, compassion and deep sense of duty echoed from across the sea and across the decades.'The Queen and I extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Queen Sonja and all her family, as Britain shares in Norway's grief at this time of such heartbreaking loss.' The new King Haakon - the youngest child of Harald and Sonja - shares two children with his wife Mette-Marit, 22-year-old Princess Ingrid Alexandra and 20-year-old Prince Sverre Magnus.Ingrid is now second in line to the throne, meaning she would be the first female monarch in Norway for more than 600 years if she were to become queen - the last being Queen Margaret I, who died in 1412.However, Haakon's ascension to the throne has not been without controversy. In recent months, the new monarch's wife, Mette-Marit, 53, has faced intense scrutiny following the release of the Epstein Files, which revealed she stayed at paedophile Jeffrey Epstein's Palm Beach residence in 2013 – after he was convicted for soliciting sex from girls as young as 14. King Harald V ruled Norway for 35 years - becoming the country's oldest reigning monarch in 2024 Harald is pictured with his widow, queen dowager Sonja, and the late Queen Elizabeth II in London. On Friday, King Charles extended his 'deepest and most heartfelt condolences' to the Norwegian Royal Family following the death of his 'dear cousin' Mette-Marit (pictured) has faced increased scrutiny following the release of the Epstein Files, which revealed she stayed at Jeffrey Epstein's Palm Beach residence in 2013 - after he was convicted for soliciting sex from girls as young as 14 In June, Mette-Marit's son, Marius Borg Høiby (pictured), was convicted on two counts of rape and jailed for four years The new queen claimed this year she had been misled by the late sex offender as she sought to contain the fallout. Fresh scandal also came in June when Mette-Marit's son, Marius Borg Høiby, was convicted on two counts of rape and jailed for four years following a six-week trial that laid bare allegations of violence, drug abuse and sexual misconduct. King Charles III's statement 'It is with the most profound sadness that my wife and I have learned of the death of my dear cousin, King Harald V of Norway. 'For thirty-five years, King Harald served his people with unwavering dedication, guiding Norway through times of great change with warmth and humility. 'As Norway mourns the loss of so towering a figure, my whole family join in remembering a much-loved kinsman and friend whose kindness, compassion and deep sense of duty echoed from across the sea and across the decades. 'The United Kingdom and Norway share particularly close historical and family ties, with Britain one of the first countries to recognise Norwegian independence and establish diplomatic relations in 1905. 'These special bonds were even further strengthened during the dreadful trials of the Second World War and help to bind our two countries together. 'The Queen and I extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Queen Sonja and all her family, as Britain shares in Norway's grief at this time of such heartbreaking loss. Charles R.' An Oslo court also found him guilty of assaulting his former girlfriend, Nora Haukland, issuing threats and committing traffic offences, although he was acquitted of two other rape charges. The 29-year-old had been charged with sexually assaulting four women who were asleep or otherwise unable to resist between 2018 and 2024. The conviction marked a fall for Høiby, who grew up in the public eye after his mother married the then Crown Prince Haakon in 2001 when he was just four.Although he does not hold a royal title or carry out official duties, he has long been closely associated with the Norwegian Royal Family.King Haakon also faces additional drama with the upcoming arrival of a second reality TV show by King Harald and Queen Sonja's eldest daughter, Princess Martha Louise, and her 'shaman' husband, Durek Verrett. The couple's first Netflix show, Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story, took an 'intimate look' at the love story between Martha Louise and the Hollywood 'half-reptilian and bisexual' shaman.The film followed the couple as they 'navigated a swirl of controversy' and prepared for their wedding, which took place in the picturesque small town of Geiranger in 2024.In a move dubbed 'Norway's Megxit', Martha Louise relinquished her royal role in November 2022.Eyebrows were raised when the princess first began dating Verrett, who holds some controversial and pseudoscientific views, including that cancer in children can be caused by 'being unhappy'.The couple were introduced by friends in 2019 and have claimed to have known each other in a past life, specifically from ancient Egypt.Their latest reality TV venture adds to what has been - and what is continuing to be - one of the toughest periods for the Norwegian throne in modern times.