Letter to H.M King Haakon of Norway from H.S.H Princess Mary Yar of Bir Tawil on the occation of his Father's passing

H.M King Haakon VIII
The Royal Palace
Slottsplassen 1
Oslo

September 1, 2026

Your Majesty,

It is with a heavy heart that I write to you on behalf of the Principality of Bir Tawil upon the passing of your beloved father, King Harald V. Though our two lands could not differ more in size or history; mine a quiet stretch of desert between Egypt and Sudan, not known to many, and yours a renowned kingdom with an ancient crown, grief for a father is a language every nation speaks the same way.

I did not have the honor of knowing His Majesty personally, but I have heard enough of his life and his thirty-five years on the throne to know that Norway mourns not only a king, but a father to his people in every sense of the word. May the memories of his devotion, his steady hand, and his quiet dignity bring you some measure of comfort in the days ahead.

Please know that sincere condolences can reach you from even the farthest and least expected corners of the world. Bir Tawil, sovereign in spirit if modest in standing, stands with Norway in this moment of loss.

I wish you strength as you step into your new role as King, and I hope that in time, the weight of the crown will feel a little lighter for having been carried by such a father before you.

With deepest sympathy and respect,

Mary Yar I