Norway Bids Farewell to King Harald V as World Leaders and Royals Gather in Oslo

Norway is bidding farewell on Wednesday to King Harald V, a monarch who came to embody the country's modern identity and who was regarded by many as a unifying and almost grandfatherly figure for the nation.

The 89-year-old king, who died on August 28, was a fixture of Norwegian public life for decades. At the time of his death, he was Europe's oldest reigning monarch and, despite recurring health problems in recent years, never gave any indication that he was considering abdication.

Foreign leaders, princes and kings attend funeral

Members of Europe's royal families, heads of state and foreign dignitaries have gathered in Oslo to pay their final respects to the late monarch.

Among those attending are Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prince William of the United Kingdom, the King and Queen of Spain, the presidents of Finland, Germany and the Czech Republic, and the prime ministers of France and Thailand.

Also present are Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko of Japan, members of the Scandinavian royal families, the royal couples of Belgium and the Netherlands, Prince Albert II of Monaco and King Abdullah II of Jordan.

 

Procession to Oslo Cathedral

The funeral procession is scheduled to depart from the Royal Palace at noon local time.

The coffin will be transported on a gun carriage along the city's main boulevard before arriving at Oslo Cathedral, where the funeral service will begin at 1 p.m.

At the same time, a minute's silence will be observed across Norway.

The procession will be led on foot by the Norwegian royal family under the new monarch, King Haakon VIII, alongside members of foreign royal families, heads of state and official guests.

An exception will be made for Queen Sonja, the widow of Harald, and the new queen, Mette-Marit, who underwent a lung transplant in June. Both women will travel by car.

Marius Borg Høiby granted permission to attend

Permission has also been granted for Marius Borg Høiby, Mette-Marit's son from a previous relationship, to attend the funeral.

Høiby is currently under house arrest while appealing a conviction for rape and assault.

Final honours at Akershus

Following the funeral service, four F-35 fighter jets will carry out a "missing man" flypast over the cathedral as the coffin is transported to the chapel at Akershus Fortress.

Harald's remains will then be placed in the royal mausoleum alongside members of his family, including his parents and grandparents.

According to the report, the king will be buried in a sarcophagus valued at €1.7 million, the design of which has not been publicly disclosed.

After the burial, flags across the country will be raised once again and church bells will ring for one hour.

The monarch of a tolerant Norway

King Harald V ascended the throne in 1991 and remained widely popular until the end of his life.

For many Norwegians, he symbolised an open, modern and tolerant society.

One of his most memorable public interventions came in 2016, during celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of his accession, when he spoke about diversity and Norwegian identity.

"Norwegians are girls who love girls, boys who love boys, and girls and boys who love each other," he said.

"Norwegians believe in God, in Allah, in the universe and in nothing," he added in a speech that became one of the defining moments of his reign and remains deeply embedded in Norway's collective memory.