Norway has bid a final farewell to King Harald V, with his coffin carried in a solemn procession from the Royal Palace to Oslo Cathedral for a state funeral attended by members of the Norwegian royal family, foreign royals and international leaders.
King Harald died on August 28, 2026, at the age of 89, after reigning for 35 years. His son, King Haakon VIII, succeeded him immediately following his death.
The funeral procession began at midday, with the coffin transported from the Royal Palace through central Oslo. A 21-gun salute accompanied the ceremony as thousands of mourners gathered along the route to pay their final respects.
The service at Oslo Cathedral included a nationwide minute of silence, memorial addresses and a candle-lighting ceremony involving representatives of different faiths and beliefs. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and the president of the Storting also delivered memorial remarks.
King Haakon VIII walked behind his father’s coffin during the procession, alongside other members of the royal family. In his tribute to Harald, the new king remembered his father as a warm family man and a unifying figure who served Norway with dedication.
The funeral attracted prominent international guests, including Prince William of Britain, Spain’s King Felipe VI, Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino, Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
After the service, the coffin was taken to Akershus Fortress, where a private family ceremony was held before King Harald was laid to rest in the royal crypt. Church bells across Norway then rang for an hour as the national mourning period formally ended.
More than 46,000 people had reportedly paid their respects while King Harald lay in state, reflecting the widespread affection for the monarch.
Harald’s funeral marks the end of a 35-year reign and the beginning of a new chapter for Norway’s monarchy under King Haakon VIII.
Swifteradio.com
