Norway Says Final Farewell to King Harald V as Nation Falls Silent
Norway bid farewell to King Harald V with a grand funeral procession, a minute of silence, and a 21-gun salute in Oslo.
Oslo came to a standstill on Wednesday as Norway held the state funeral of King Harald V, who died on August 28 at the age of 89. The long-serving monarch, who reigned for 35 years, was remembered for his down-to-earth manner and his ability to unite the nation.
A 21-gun salute marked the start of the funeral procession from the Royal Palace to Oslo Cathedral. The new king, Haakon VIII, walked behind the coffin, which was draped in the red Norwegian royal standard. Queen Sonja, Harald's widow, and Queen Mette-Marit followed in a car.
At exactly one o'clock, three solo bells introduced a minute of silence that brought the entire country to a halt. For sixty seconds, only the wind could be heard as the nation paid tribute to a monarch who had spent a lifetime bringing Norwegians together.
Dignitaries from around the world joined the procession, including the monarchs of Sweden, Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Monaco, and Jordan. Prince William of Wales represented the British royal family, and Japan's Crown Prince Akishino was also present. Political leaders from more than 20 countries attended, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
During the service, parliament's speaker, Masud Gharahkhani, recalled that King Harald was close to the people, noting he was not afraid to meet them in his rubber boots. He also remembered the king's 2008 New Year's address, in which Harald urged Norwegians to stop using the term "the weakest in society," saying that some of these people are among the strongest of all.
Large crowds lined the streets of Oslo, which were closed to vehicles and electric scooters. Police had advised against bringing bicycles, umbrellas, or sharp objects. Across the country of about 5.6 million people, churches, libraries, and city halls set up big screens for the public to watch the funeral.
After the service, the coffin was taken to Akershus Fortress, where Harald's predecessors are buried in the crypt of the palace chapel. King Haakon followed with the Scandinavian monarchs, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and King Frederik X of Denmark. The new king and Queen Mette-Marit later greeted crowds from the balcony of the Royal Palace, marking the beginning of a new era for the Norwegian monarchy.