King Harald the Generous

1937–2026

We thank you, our generous, inclusive and unifying King. And we thank our generous God for you, for your life and for your faithful service to our country and its people.

Your reign helped to shape a warmer society, a more colourful people, a richer and more diverse culture, and a peaceful nation.

You achieved all this simply by being generous.

You were generous in your encounters with people from different backgrounds, facing many kinds of circumstances and challenges.

You were generous when you told us who Norwegians are. Through your words and your attitude, you created a great and inclusive “we”.

You were generous when you placed your large, warm, kingly hand upon children and young people who were struggling with difficult challenges in their lives.

You were generous when you shared your broad smile and infectious laughter with us.

You were generous when you welcomed joyful athletes returning with their medals and gave them your warm embraces. But you were even more generous when you embraced and comforted survivors of terror and tragedy. You became the comforting grandfather of the whole nation when you openly shared your tears with us in the face of suffering and death.

You were generous when you put on your boots and everyday clothes to be close to your people and show compassion after the devastation caused by the forces of nature.

You were generous when you travelled throughout the length and breadth of the country, visiting both central regions and remote villages. You journeyed to municipalities large and small to meet people—children and young people, the sick and the elderly. You were generous because you never treated one person as more important than another.

You were generous when you shared wise words in your speeches and gave us wisdom and insight. You did not speak loudly about your personal faith in God, but you generously shared your Christian values without using religious language.

You were generous when your gentle humour helped people relax and laugh with you—our wonderful and playful King.

You were generous simply because you were such a fine human being. You were broad-minded, warm-hearted and good-natured, kind and gracious. You were a genuine and caring fellow human being.

King Harald the Generous, we thank you for being yourself, for being who you were: a generous fellow human being by the grace of God!

Dear King Haakon VIII!

Now it is your turn!

We welcome you with open arms and embrace you with all our hearts!

You have already won our trust and our love.

You have been through fire and water. You have been tested and have stood firm.

You won our hearts long before you said, in the middle of the media storm, that the most important thing for you was to take care of your family—your flock. Now the whole nation has become part of your flock. We trust that you will be present among us, listen to us and care for us all.

King Haakon VIII, we carry you with us into the future—in our hearts, our thoughts and our prayers—confident that God will bless and help you, and preserve our country!

Erling Thu
Randaberg, 2026