Norway Bids Farewell to King Harald V
OSLO, Norway – On Wednesday, Norway said its final goodbyes to King Harald V as his coffin made its way to a funeral attended by countless royals and leaders from around Europe and beyond, with thousands lining the streets to pay their respects.
A 21-gun salute resonated over the capital, marking the beginning of a solemn 30-minute procession from the royal palace to Oslo Cathedral. Following the casket, which was adorned with the red Norwegian royal standard, walked Harald’s son, the newly crowned King Haakon VIII, along with other senior royals.
Behind them, Queen Sonja, Harald’s widow, and Queen Mette-Marit, Haakon’s wife, traveled by car.
The procession included Norwegian officials and dignitaries from abroad. Notable attendees comprised royal figures from Sweden, Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Monaco, and Jordan. Additionally, Prince William, the heir to the British throne, and Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino were present, as were political leaders from over 20 countries, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine.
King Harald, who passed away on August 28 at the age of 89, was the oldest monarch in Europe and had been on the throne for 35 years.
During his reign, he modernized the royal family but chose not to abdicate, unlike some other aging monarchs. His son seamlessly transitioned into kingship, taking an oath of allegiance to Norway’s constitution in parliament just last week.
The funeral drew large crowds, with thousands standing behind barriers along streets adorned with national flags. The downtown area was off-limits for vehicles and electric scooters, with police requesting that attendees leave bicycles, umbrellas, or sharp objects at home.
Many across the country tuned in to the proceedings. Numerous churches, libraries, cultural centers, and city halls set up large screens for the public to follow the ceremony, as reported by the public broadcaster NRK.
In the days leading up to the funeral, Norwegians lined up for hours to pay their respects at Harald’s coffin in the royal palace’s chapel. At one point, the wait stretched to seven hours over the weekend, with more than 46,000 people visiting the chapel during the week it was available for public viewing.
A minute of silence is set to be observed throughout Norway as the funeral begins. Eulogies will be delivered by the speaker of Norway’s parliament and the prime minister, followed by a candle lighting ceremony involving representatives from various faiths.
Although the government declared it was not an official holiday, schools and workplaces have the option to allow students and employees to observe the events. The government also recommended that “noisy events” be put on pause during the funeral.
After the service, King Harald’s coffin will proceed to the palace chapel at Akershus Castle, where his ancestors rest. Following a private ceremony for the Norwegian royals, who will be joined by some foreign dignitaries and senior officials, it will be interred in the crypt.
The monarchy in Norway can be traced back to King Harald Fairhair in the ninth century. When Norway regained its independence from Sweden in 1905, a plebiscite showed that three-quarters of voters favored restoring the monarchy.
The Norwegian royal family is interconnected with other European royal families, with Harald and Haakon being related to both King Charles III of Britain and King Felipe VI of Spain; they all share ancestry with Queen Victoria, who reigned from 1837 until her death in 1901.
Today, the role of the throne is predominantly symbolic, with real power residing in the elected government and parliament. However, the Norwegian royal family continues to play a role in promoting the nation globally.
