265
Norway's King Harald dies aged 89
(www.bbc.com)
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
this post was submitted on 28 Aug 2026
265 points (98.2% liked)
World News
58116 readers
1147 users here now
A community for discussing events around the World
Rules:
-
Rule 1: posts have the following requirements:
- Post news articles only
- Video links are NOT articles and will be removed.
- Title must match the article headline
- Not United States Internal News
- Recent (Past 30 Days)
- Screenshots/links to other social media sites (Twitter/X/Facebook/Youtube/reddit, etc.) are explicitly forbidden, as are link shorteners.
-
Rule 2: Do not copy the entire article into your post. The key points in 1-2 paragraphs is allowed (even encouraged!), but large segments of articles posted in the body will result in the post being removed. If you have to stop and think "Is this fair use?", it probably isn't. Archive links, especially the ones created on link submission, are absolutely allowed but those that avoid paywalls are not.
-
Rule 3: Opinions articles, or Articles based on misinformation/propaganda may be removed.
-
Rule 4: Posts or comments that are homophobic, transphobic, racist, sexist, anti-religious, or ableist will be removed. “Ironic” prejudice is just prejudiced.
-
Posts and comments must abide by the lemmy.world terms of service UPDATED AS OF OCTOBER 19 2025
-
Rule 5: Keep it civil. It's OK to say the subject of an article is behaving like a (pejorative, pejorative). It's NOT OK to say another USER is (pejorative). Strong language is fine, just not directed at other members. Engage in good-faith and with respect! This includes accusing another user of being a bot or paid actor. Trolling is uncivil and is grounds for removal and/or a community ban.
Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.
-
Rule 6: Memes, spam, other low effort posting, reposts, misinformation, advocating violence, off-topic, trolling, offensive, regarding the moderators or meta in content may be removed at any time.
-
Rule 7: We didn't USED to need a rule about how many posts one could make in a day, then someone posted NINETEEN articles in a single day. Not comments, FULL ARTICLES. If you're posting more than say, 10 or so, consider going outside and touching grass. We reserve the right to limit over-posting so a single user does not dominate the front page.
We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.
All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.
Lemmy World Partners
News !news@lemmy.world
Politics !politics@lemmy.world
World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world
Ask Historians !askhistorians@lemmy.world
Recommendations
For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/
- Consider including the article’s mediabiasfactcheck.com/ link
founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
The only good king is a dead one.
I believe I speak for all of Norway when I say this: Fuck you
As a Norwegian that felt nothing when I read the news compared to my wife: thank you.
Sorry. There is just something particularly vile about any human being claiming hereditary power over another, no matter how ceremonial. If I had it my way, I would make it a capital offense for the holder of any title of hereditary nobility to step foot on US territory. I don't care how well liked a king is or how well funded their PR department. You cannot be a good person while claiming the right from birth to rule over other human beings. It's a moral abomination.
Call me a militant anti-monarchist if you want. But I truly believe the only good king is a dead one.
The thing is
So when you make a comment saying that "they deserved it" about someone whose crime is being born into the spotlight, despite any good they may have done with that position, people are going to think you're an uninformed jerk.
There is some power, although due to it not having been exercised for a century. Lawyers argue the legal texts are no longer binding.
But they're ultimately the last entity that should block a party, if they turn full on authoritarian. All democracies need a non political entity, to overlook the democratic process and stop undemocratic moves.
Finland has a president for the same reason, and likewise does several other European nations.
You should also be against any kind of inheritance then, at least beyond a some threshold. Cause children of billionaires have a right from birth to rule over others.
Who says I'm not?
The Norwegian people elected to have their family as royals in 1905, and all three of them has truly been kings for the peoples. But there is a chance Håkon or Ingrid Alexandra will be the last regents, but better with a family the people get too know their whole lives than presidents, in my opinion. They don't have the power to fuck with the people as some presidents can.
Håkon was our first own king in 500 years, he was a collective unification point with his radioed speeches during the war. Olav, first Norwegian king named Olav not to be murdered. Known as the king of the people. Famous picture of him insisting to pay for a ticket on the tram to Holmenkollen but the conductor refusing to accept. Harald was the first Norwegian born king since 1370, a truly unifying force for the people after 22 July 2011 and his speech about Norwegians from 2015 or 16 is so good it will live in for generations. Håkon has had his fair share of issues with his stepson and the queen in the last few years, but no one doubts he will follow in the footsteps of his family to be a force for good for the county and they people.
But they are by constitution demanded to be Christian, something Harald wanted to be kept as we separated church and state in the late 00's. Not a fan of that.
So you speak for each and every Norwegian without asking, or looking up, their opinion first? How very monarchist of you!
Jesus Christ, the man was well liked by his country. Its not the time or the place for that. Ffs, its not even been 6 hours
surpise_pikachu.jpg
So basically, OP just posts whatever's edgy and vaguely leftist.
Anyone wanna bet on if they do absolutely anything about politics in meatspace?
bro what the fuck
Hereditary monarchy is weird as fuck in the 21st century.
It's one of those things where the royal family has no actual political power vested in them, yet at the same time this particular king and queen has used their royal influence to better people's lives wherever they can.
Like, even if they have no power, being king and queen turns heads, and they've used this to make sure people are heard, people are unified and important things come to light.
They've highlighted the importance of diversity, gay rights, religious freedoms and all that entails. This king has used his influence to right the wrongs he's seen in how indigenous people have been treated, they've travelled to areas after natural disasters to help with relief work while in rubber boots and work jackets while the areas were still dangerous. Left the fancy suit and stuff at home and went out to help.
For Norway, I think a lot of people see the king as their kind grandpa who still believed in the good in the hearts of the people. That grandpa who didn't become more radicalized the older he got. The kind of man who listened to his son's girlfriend's troubled past full of poor choices and still said "No problem. You're still welcome here."
I think the world is a little bit poorer without him, even if I mostly don't like monarchs and monarchies. Power doesn't corrupt as much as it reveals, and with him, I feel it revealed a man with strong morals and a good heart. He also says he has full faith in his son to continue that work and that spirit, and even though his family is very controversial, I want to believe in the late king's judgement.
But yeah, hereditary monarchies ARE weird as fuck, but they can also be used for good.