Norwegians bid farewell to King Harald V at grand state funeral in Oslo
SCMP · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Norway held a state funeral for King Harald V on Wednesday in Oslo Cathedral, marking the end of a 31-year reign for a monarch described as the "grandfather of the nation." The ceremony drew thousands of mourners and international dignitaries, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Britain's Prince William, as the late king's coffin made its final journey through the capital .
Key Points
- King Harald V died on August 28, 2026, aged 89; his funeral procession began at noon from the Royal Palace with the coffin on an artillery carriage draped in Norway's red royal banner
- The funeral service began at 1 p.m. local time with a nationwide minute of silence, marked by church bells striking three times across Norway
- Foreign monarchs attending included Denmark's King Frederik X and Queen Mary, Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf, Spain's King Felipe VI, and the Netherlands' King Willem-Alexander
- New King Haakon VIII led the royal procession alongside Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra; Queen Sonja (89) and new Queen Mette-Marit, who had a lung transplant in June, followed in a car
- Following the service, the king will be buried at Akershus Castle chapel in a US$2 million sarcophagus; 3,000 police and 3,500 soldiers secured the event
Why It Matters
The funeral of King Harald V concludes an era of modern Norwegian monarchy and transitions the nation to a new reign under King Haakon VIII at a time when European royal families continue to serve as symbols of national unity and continuity .
The funeral of King Harald V concludes an era of modern Norwegian monarchy and transitions the nation to a new reign under King Haakon VIII at a time when European royal families continue to serve as symbols of national unity and continuity .