King Haakon, royals attend memorial service for Harald

Norway's new King Haakon VIII and other members of the royal family joined a memorial service Sunday to pay tribute to his father, King Harald, who passed away two days earlier.

As per a report by the AFP, members of the public lined up to catch a glimpse of the new 53-year-old king outside the church of Asker, 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.

No date has been set for the late king's funeral.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store told public broadcaster NRK Sunday that "we will lay the king to rest in the week after next", meaning the week starting September 7.

Memorial services were planned in churches across the country, and outside Oslo Cathedral -- where government representatives attended a service -- hundreds started lining up in the morning to try and get a seat.