Norway Bids Farewell to King Harald V at State Funeral in Oslo

Norway held a state funeral on Wednesday for King Harald V, who died on August 28 at the age of 89. The ceremony in Oslo drew monarchs and leaders from across Europe and beyond to honour a king who modernised the royal house during his 35-year reign.

Harald's coffin was carried in a procession from the Royal Palace to Oslo Cathedral, followed by his son, King Haakon VIII, senior Norwegian royals, and foreign dignitaries. Soldiers, flag-bearers, and a marching band lined the route, while cannons fired in salute. Well-wishers had earlier placed a wall of flowers outside the palace.

Among the attendees were the monarchs of Sweden, Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Jordan. Prince William represented the British throne, and Crown Prince Akishino of Japan was also present. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended after meeting Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in Oslo on Tuesday. The United States was represented by Under Secretary of State Allison Hooker.

A minute's silence was observed across Norway at the start of the ceremony. Eulogies were delivered by the parliament speaker and the prime minister, followed by a candle-lighting ceremony with representatives of different faiths. The government advised schools and workplaces to suspend noisy events during the funeral, though it was not declared an official holiday.

After the service, the coffin was taken to Akershus Castle for a private ceremony with the royal family before being lowered into the crypt where Harald's ancestors are buried.

Harald, who was Europe's oldest monarch at the time of his death, had declined to abdicate unlike some of his contemporaries. His son immediately ascended the throne as King Haakon VIII and pledged an oath to the constitution in parliament last week.

The Norwegian monarchy traces its roots to King Harald Fairhair in the ninth century. A 1905 plebiscite approved restoring the monarchy after Norway regained independence from Sweden. While the throne's role is now largely symbolic, the royal family continues to promote Norway internationally.