Norway is holding a state funeral on Wednesday to bid its final farewell to King Harald V, who died on Aug. 28 at the age of 89. The ceremony in Oslo Cathedral will be attended by royalty and leaders from across Europe and beyond, paying tribute to the popular monarch’s 35-year reign.
Harald was Europe’s oldest monarch and had modernized the royal house during his time on the throne. His son, who immediately became King Haakon VIII, last week pledged an oath of allegiance to Norway’s constitution in parliament.
During the funeral procession, the King's coffin will travel from the royal palace to Oslo Cathedral. Haakon, other senior Norwegian royals, foreign guests, and representatives of Norway’s parliament are expected to follow. For days leading up to the funeral, Norwegians queued for up to seven hours to file past Harald’s coffin as it lay in state in the royal palace chapel.
Large crowds are anticipated in the capital for the event. The downtown area will be closed to vehicles and electric scooters, and police have advised attendees against bringing bicycles, umbrellas, or sharp objects. Large screens have been erected to allow the public to watch the ceremony.
Mons of Sweden, Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Jordan are among the expected attendees. Prince William, the heir to the British throne, and Crown Prince Akishino of Japan are also scheduled to attend, alongside presidents from various European nations. A minute’s silence will be observed across Norway at the commencement of the funeral service.
Eulogies will be delivered by Norway’s parliament speaker and prime minister. A candle-lighting ceremony featuring representatives of different faiths is also planned.
Following the service, the King's coffin will be taken in procession to the palace chapel at Akershus Castle, the resting place of his ancestors. A private ceremony for the Norwegian royals, joined by select foreign guests and senior Norwegian officials, will precede the lowering of the coffin into the crypt.
The Norwegian monarchy traces its history to King Harald Fairhair in the ninth century. In 1905, following Norway’s regained independence from Sweden, a national plebiscite saw three-quarters of voters approve the restoration of the monarchy. Today, the throne's role is largely symbolic, with governing power resting with the elected government and parliament, though the royal family continues to play a role in promoting the nation internationally.
