King Haakon VIII has paid a deeply personal tribute to his late father, King Harald V, while marking what would have been his parents' 58th wedding anniversary with a message to Queen Sonja. Speaking from the Royal Palace in Oslo on Saturday, the newly acceded King reflected on the extraordinary loss facing his family and the nation, just one day after Harald died at the age of 89. Haakon directly addressed his mother during the speech, telling her that he was proud of the life and work she had shared with Harald before offering her a simple but moving anniversary wish: "Congratulations on your wedding anniversary, dear mother."

The King also spoke about his own grief, describing Harald not only as a monarch but as the father he and his sister, Princess Märtha Louise, had known as a warm and reassuring presence. He remembered Harald as a loving father to him and Märtha Louise, a funny and affectionate grandfather, a caring husband and a generous father-in-law. He described his father as the natural head of their family, someone who had a remarkable ability to bring relatives together without needing to assert his authority. Above all, Haakon said, Harald remained true to his values and commitments, having a special tenderness towards children and young people.

Haakon then turned to some of the moments that captured his father's character as King, remembering the monarch apologising to the Sami people for historical injustices and standing alongside the nation in its grief following the 2011 attacks on Utøya. The new King also offered a more intimate image of his father away from royal duties, such as Harald aboard a sailboat, laughing loudly while competing alongside fellow sailing enthusiasts, or smiling from a hammock in the Amazon after fulfilling a childhood dream of spending time with the Yanomami people.

Concluding his address, Haakon emphasized that his father had represented Norway with pride and happiness throughout his reign, from cross-country skiing events to state visits abroad like meeting Nelson Mandela in South Africa. The nation is currently observing an official mourning period, while memorial services are being held across the country. A service at Asker Church will be attended by Queen Sonja, King Haakon, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus on Sunday.