Oslo Pauses for the Funeral of Norway’s King Harald V

Norway brought a solemn national farewell to King Harald V today as the late monarch was laid to rest, closing 13 days of mourning after his death at 89.

Harald, regarded as a reformer, spent more than three decades on the throne, gradually stepping out from the long shadow cast by his popular, charismatic father. He died amid a period of multiple crises affecting the Norwegian royal family.

The day’s ceremonies began with a procession on foot from the royal palace to Oslo Cathedral at 12pm (11am Irish time), underscored by cannon fire from Akershus Fortress.

Police said tens of thousands of people packed Karl Johan Avenue. As the coffin moved through the capital, the crowd fell into near-complete silence.

A church service followed, opening with a nationwide minute of silence.

Those attending included President Catherine Connolly, Britain’s Prince William and Princess Anne; Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko; Spain’s King Felipe, Queen Letizia and Queen Sofia; Sweden’s royal family; and Denmark’s King Frederik and Queen Mary.

Heads of state from around the world were invited to attend.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy also marched in the procession.

He arrived in Oslo last night, meeting Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre to discuss the war with Russia, officials from both sides said.

When President Zelensky left the cathedral, the crowds clapped and cheered for him.

Representing the United States was Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker, the Norwegian government said.

King Haakon VIII and Queen Mette-Marit appeared on the Royal Palace balcony after the funeral

Queen Mette-Marit, the commoner wife of Norway’s new King Haakon VIII, was present for the funeral.

However, the 53-year-old travelled by car alongside King Harald’s widow, Queen Sonja, who is 89.

Queen Mette-Marit is recovering from a lung transplant that she underwent in June.

Last week, she was forced to cancel plans to attend her husband’s oath ceremony in parliament because of complications following the operation.

Her son from a relationship before her marriage to King Haakon, Marius Borg Hoiby, attended the funeral.

He is under house arrest and is wearing an ankle monitor after being convicted of rape and domestic violence.

The 29-year-old is appealing the sentence.

He also served as one of the pall-bearers when King Harald’s coffin was moved to the royal chapel on 31 August, a role that sparked criticism in parts of Norway and abroad.

Member of His Majesty the King’s Guard walked ahead of the coffin of King Harald V

Following the service, four F-35 fighter jets flew over Oslo Cathedral, with one aircraft peeling away in a symbolic gesture to mark the king’s passing.

Then a smaller procession, paced to Frederic Chopin’s Funeral March, escorted the coffin to the royal crypt at Akershus Fortress, overlooking the harbour.

There, King Harald’s coffin was placed in a sarcophagus beside those of his parents.

As his son, Haakon, emerged from the crypt, the official mourning period came to an end.

Flags were raised from half-mast and church bells rang across Norway for an hour.

Hundreds of thousands of Norwegians paid tribute to King Harald outside the Royal Palace

Police said the security effort for the funeral amounted to the largest planned operation in the force’s history, with central Oslo drawing vast crowds.

Hundreds of thousands of people honoured King Harald by leaving flowers, candles and flags outside the Royal Palace, or by filing past his coffin in the royal chapel.

Many mourners spoke of his inclusiveness, and in his first national address as sovereign, King Haakon described him as a wonderful father.

Even with its recent troubles, Norway’s monarchy remains widely supported.

A Norstat opinion poll for broadcaster NRK published on 1 September found 72% of Norwegians back the monarchy, while 20% prefer a republic or another form of government, in the first survey conducted since King Harald’s death.