It is with deep sorrow and great gratitude that Trondheim has today received the message that our beloved King Harald V has laid his burden to rest.
 
King Harald was more than a regent. He was a fellow human being who managed to acknowledge everyone. He was our shared source of comfort during difficult times, and a voice for inclusion, generosity and hope. With his wisdom and warm humour, he reduced the gap between the exalted and the humble. He understood the importance of tradition, but he was never afraid of renewal.
 
Trondheim has a very special place in the history of the monarchy, and King Harald had a very special place in the hearts of the local Trønder people. On multiple occasions, he talked about himself as a ‘closet Trønder’, which went down well with all the Trønder people. As the country’s signature city, Trondheim has had the privilege of hosting The King during some of his most important moments. We remember with warmth the day in 1991 when he and Queen Sonja were blessed in Nidaros Cathedral, and how he throughout all his work would return to our town with genuine interest and contagious humour.
 
Today, our warmest thoughts are with The Queen, the Crown Prince Couple and the entire Royal Family. We share your sorrow.
 
We thank King Harald for all that he has meant for Norway, for Trondheim and for every one of us. His life work will stand as a memorial stone in our history, and his memory will live on in our town, which was always close to his heart.
 
May peace be upon King Harald’s memory.

Mayor Kent Ranum