OSLO — Norway held official mourning ceremonies on Sunday for the late King Harald V, days after his death on Friday. His son and successor, King Haakon, led the nation in tributes at Oslo Cathedral as flags flew at half-mast on government buildings across the country.

Thousands of Norwegians laid flowers outside the Royal Palace in Oslo over the weekend. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre issued a statement praising Harald as a unifying figure who embodied the nation's values through decades of social change.

King Haakon and Queen Mette-Marit attended the memorial service, joined by Princess Ingrid Alexandra, the heir to the throne. European royal households, including representatives from Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom, sent condolences to the palace.

Under Norwegian tradition, the new monarch does not undergo a formal coronation but receives a ceremonial blessing at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim. The Royal Court indicated that arrangements for that ceremony would follow the state funeral in the coming days.