Norway marked the conclusion of 13 days of national mourning with a funeral ceremony for King Harald V, who died last month at the age of 89. Tens of thousands gathered along the streets of Oslo on Monday to pay their respects as the late monarch was laid to rest, with numerous foreign dignitaries present for the state funeral.
The funeral procession saw King Harald’s coffin, draped in the red royal banner of Norway and adorned with white flowers, carried on an artillery carriage through Oslo’s main thoroughfare. A 21-gun salute was fired from Akershus fortress as the cortege moved from the Royal Palace to Oslo Cathedral. Walking alongside the casket were King Haakon VIII, the late king’s son and successor, and other members of the royal family. Queen Sonja, Harald’s widow, and Queen Mette-Marit, Haakon’s wife—who is recovering from a lung transplant performed in June—followed in a vehicle.
The state ceremony at Oslo Cathedral drew royals from across Europe, including Britain’s Prince William and Princess Anne; Spain’s King Felipe and Queen Letizia; Sweden’s royal family; Denmark’s King Frederik and Queen Mary; the Netherlands’ King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima; and Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and political representatives from more than 20 countries also attended.
During the service, Masud Gharahkhani, speaker of the Norwegian parliament, praised King Harald as a monarch unafraid to connect with his people “with his rubber boots on,” reflecting his down-to-earth style. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre described Harald as someone who "struck a balance between being stately and being down-to-earth," crediting him with strengthening national unity by fostering a sense of collective responsibility.
Following the church service, a flypast by four F-35 fighter jets took place, with one jet breaking formation as a symbol of the king’s passing. The coffin was subsequently transported to Akershus fortress for a private burial in the royal crypt alongside Harald’s ancestors.
Norwegian authorities reported that the security operation for the funeral was the largest ever undertaken by the police force. More than 46,000 Norwegians visited the coffin during public viewings in the preceding week, with schools allowing students to miss classes to participate in mourning activities.
The funeral took place amid recent controversies involving the royal family, notably criticism directed toward Queen Mette-Marit for her past association with the late American convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Another source of public scrutiny involved Mette-Marit's son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Hoiby, who is currently under house arrest pending an appeal against convictions for rape and domestic violence. Hoiby was permitted to attend the funeral and served as a pallbearer during the transfer to the royal chapel.
Despite these recent difficulties, the Norwegian monarchy maintains widespread popular support. A poll conducted for the national broadcaster NRK indicated that 72% of Norwegians favor retaining the monarchy, while 20% support the establishment of a republic or alternative system of government.