Oslo Mayor Anne Lindboe postponed her wedding to fiancé Pål Sandvid following the death of Norway’s King Harald V on Friday, her political adviser confirmed.
The wedding ceremony had been scheduled for the same day that the 89-year-old monarch died at Norway’s national hospital in Oslo, where he had been receiving treatment for a rare blood condition.
Mayor pays emotional tribute to the late king
Lindboe paid tribute to Harald on Instagram, describing his death as a deeply difficult moment for Oslo and Norway.
She wrote that it was difficult to imagine the capital and the country without him, adding that he did not need a crown to be regarded as king.
Lindboe also highlighted the connection many Norwegians felt with Harald despite never meeting him personally.
No new date has been announced for the mayor’s wedding.
Norway mourns a popular monarch
Harald V reigned for 35 years and was widely regarded as a unifying figure who helped modernise Norway’s monarchy.
He broke with royal tradition by marrying Sonja Haraldsen, a commoner who became Queen Sonja. The king also remained a prominent national figure during challenging periods for the country.
Harald died just one day before his 58th wedding anniversary with Queen Sonja.
Following his death, members of the public gathered outside the Royal Palace in Oslo to leave flowers and pay their respects.
King Haakon VIII takes the throne
Harald’s son succeeded him as King Haakon VIII on Friday. Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said the country was united in grief and gratitude for the late monarch’s service.
Britain’s King Charles III also expressed his sorrow, describing Harald as his “dear cousin”. Harald was a second cousin of Queen Elizabeth II.
For many Norwegians, the king’s death marks the end of a long chapter in the nation’s modern history, as the country begins a new royal era under Haakon VIII.