Norwegian Fans March on King Harald V's Palace After 3-2 Win Sends Team to Last 32

Q: Did the 'wake the king' chants cross a line, given the 89-year-old Queen's recent serious health scares?

Probably not, based on what is publicly known. The chants were loud and ill-timed — around 4 a.m. outside the royal residence — and that inevitably raises questions given that both King Harald V and Queen Sonja are 89, and Queen Sonja has had recent health problems, including atrial fibrillation, a pacemaker, shortness of breath and a hospitalization in May 2026. In that context, any overnight disturbance near the palace can reasonably be seen as insensitive. But there is no evidence the crowd intended hostility or that the Royal House viewed it as unacceptable. In Norway, the palace is a traditional focal point for national celebrations, including Constitution Day, and the “wake the king” chant appears to have been part of exuberant football folklore rather than a targeted act against the royal couple. The palace’s own response was notably warm: it said it “rejoices with the rest of the country” over the victory and did not criticize the fans. So the better reading is that the chants came close to the line on grounds of timing and the royals’ age and health, but did not clearly cross it in the public or official sense. If there is criticism to be made, it is about late-night noise and judgment, not malice.

3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Jun 23

Hundreds of supporters marched to King Harald V's palace in Oslo before dawn after Norway beat Senegal 3-2 to qualify for the World Cup knockout stage.
The match ended around 4 a.m., but celebrations spread across the capital on a normal workday as fans chanted "We're going to wake up the king."
At the palace square, supporters sat on the ground for a "Viking rowing" celebration while seeking a glimpse of the 89-year-old monarch.
The Royal House would not say whether King Harald V or Queen Sonja were awakened, saying only that it rejoiced with the rest of the country over the victory.