Asker (Norway) (AFP) - Norway’s new King Haakon VIII attended a memorial service Sunday, as churches across the Scandinavian country paid tribute to his father King Harald, who passed away two days ago, aged 89.

The palace announced that the late monarch’s funeral would take place on Wednesday, September 9, and the public would be able to view his casket lying in state in the palace chapel from Tuesday at 2:00 pm (1200 GMT) until September 8 at 6:00 pm.

On Sunday, crowds lined up to catch a glimpse of the new 53-year-old king outside the Asker Church, just south of the capital.

King Haakon arrived together with his daughter, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, and son, Prince Sverre Magnus, as well as the late king’s wife, Queen Sonja.

Haakon’s wife Queen Mette-Marit, who suffers from a serious lung disease, did not attend as she is still recovering from a lung transplant carried out in June.

The late king enjoyed massive support despite the slew of scandals that dogged his family in the final stretch of his 35-year reign.

A national period of mourning has been declared.

- ‘Say farewell’ -

Memorial services were held in churches across Norway on Sunday, including Oslo Cathedral where representatives of government and other dignitaries were present.

At that ceremony, Bishop Sunniva Gylver highlighted King Harald’s ability to bring comfort in a world facing wars, climate change and increased polarisation.

“King Harald highlighted several of these challenges in his speeches to us, and through that gave us occasions to talk together about big and important things,” she said.

On Tuesday, King Haakon will swear an oath of allegiance in parliament.

King Haakon and Queen Mette-Marit are not expected to be ceremonially crowned as Norway abolished coronations in 1908.

But, like his father and grandfather before him, Haakon could opt for a consecration ceremony at Trondheim Cathedral, where Norwegian monarchs were crowned between 1814 and 1906.

Harald was widely seen as the embodiment of an open and tolerant Norway. He was praised for leading a monarchy that was modern and modest.

“Above all, you were a person who remained committed to your values and dedicated to your duties,” Haakon said of his father in his first public speech as king, broadcast Saturday.

The new monarch also said it had been “deeply moving to see all the people, candles, messages and flowers filling up the Palace Square”.

- ‘Moral compass’ -

Thousands of mourners continued to gather outside the palace Sunday.

Henning Rosholt, a 62-year-old oil worker, had travelled from Larvik, about one and a half hours south of Oslo, to lay down flowers on the mountains built up over the last few days.

“I felt that it was something I needed to do. For our king,” he told AFP.

Ida Bodal, 43, echoed the thoughts of many Norwegians, saying Harald had been like a “grandfather” to the people.

“He has been a moral compass for Norway,” she said.

Harald had been in hospital in Oslo since August 17, suffering from haemolytic anaemia, a condition caused by an abnormally rapid destruction of red blood cells that leads to fatigue and shortness of breath.

He faced mounting health problems in his final years, forcing him to scale back his official schedule.

The past year has been a turbulent one for the Norwegian royal family.

Queen Sonja, also 89, was herself briefly admitted to hospital in May due to heart problems.

King Haakon’s wife Mette-Marit is under scrutiny for her ties to the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

And in June, Mette-Marit’s son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Hoiby, was sentenced to four years in prison for two rapes, a sentence he is appealing.