Norway bid farewell to King Harald V in a state funeral in Oslo attended by members of European royal families and government representatives.
The late monarch, who was widely regarded as a popular and modernizing figure, had served as Norway’s king for 35 years. His son and successor, King Haakon VIII, led the Norwegian royal family during the ceremony.
Thousands of people gathered in central Oslo from the morning hours to pay their final respects. The funeral procession traveled approximately 1.5 kilometers, from the Royal Palace to Oslo Cathedral.
Large screens were installed at nine locations across the city center so that members of the public who could not reach the cathedral could follow the ceremony.
Following the funeral service, King Harald’s coffin was taken to Akershus Fortress, where a private burial ceremony was held at the Royal Mausoleum.
In an emotional tribute following his father’s death, King Haakon described Harald as a loving father, a warm and humorous grandfather to his six grandchildren, and a devoted husband to Queen Sonja.
Haakon also recalled his father’s advice to the family to remain true to themselves and find their own way in life.
European Royals Attend
A number of prominent European royals attended the funeral in Oslo.
The Prince of Wales, William, represented his father, King Charles III, while Princess Anne also attended. British royal sources said William’s presence was in keeping with protocol, under which a reigning monarch would not normally attend the funeral of another head of state.
Among those attending were King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark, as well as King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden.
The Dutch royal family was represented by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, accompanied by their eldest daughter, Princess Amalia. Former Queen Beatrix also attended.
Representatives from Germany, Lithuania, Moldova, Estonia, Albania, Canada, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Finland, Iceland, Georgia, Poland, Ireland and Hungary were also present.
The funeral concluded with a private burial attended by close family members at the Royal Mausoleum inside Akershus Fortress.
At 5 p.m. local time, Norwegian flags across Oslo were lowered to half-mast, marking the end of the funeral ceremonies for King Harald V.
