The monarch, who passed away at the age of 89 after 35 years on the throne, was bid farewell in Oslo before tens of thousands of citizens and representatives from the major royal houses and governments of the world
Norway bid farewell to King Harald V this Wednesday with a solemn state funeral in Oslo, marking the end of 13 days of national mourning following the monarch's death at the age of 89. Tens of thousands of people gathered in the streets of the capital to accompany the funeral procession from the Royal Palace to Oslo Cathedral.
The ceremony began with a procession led by the king's coffin, while cannon salutes were heard from the Akershus Fortress. Following this, a religious service was held at Oslo Cathedral, accompanied by a minute of silence across the country. Subsequently, Harald's remains were transported to Akershus, where he was laid to rest in the royal mausoleum.
Norwegians at the funeral of King Harald V
The funeral brought together representatives from numerous monarchies and foreign governments. Among the attendees were Prince William and Princess Anne of the United Kingdom; Crown Princes Akishino and Kiko of Japan; King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain; the Swedish royal family; and King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark.
Also in attendance was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, while the United States was represented by Assistant Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker.
Harald was recognized for his approachable style and for a modern conception of the monarchy. His figure managed to maintain broad popular support even during the last years, marked by difficulties within the royal family. A poll conducted after his passing showed that 72% of Norwegians continue to support the monarchy's permanence, compared to 20% who prefer a republic or another form of government.
Queen Sonja of Norway
The funeral also represented the definitive beginning of a new era for the Crown. His son, Haakon VIII, ascended to the throne immediately after Harald's death and will now need to consolidate his own reign. However, the farewell to his father showed that the institution retains a significant ability to unite Norwegian society around national symbols and shared traditions.
With the burial of Harald V, Norway closes an era of more than three decades. The enormous public attendance and international support for the funeral sent a clear message: despite social and political changes, the monarchy continues to occupy a central place in the institutional identity of the country.
