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Thousands Gather for Funeral of Norway’s King Harald
Confirmed
In Short: Thousands lined the streets of Oslo for the funeral of King Harald V, as world leaders and royals paid their respects.
Norway has bid a final farewell to King Harald V, as the monarch’s coffin began its journey to a funeral attended by royalty and leaders from across Europe and beyond, with thousands lining the streets.
Large crowds gathered in the capital for the funeral, with thousands standing behind barriers along streets lined with national flags. Harald’s son, King Haakon VIII, and other senior royals walked behind the coffin, which was draped in the red Norwegian royal standard.
Harald’s reign as the sovereign of Norway began in 1991, following the passing of his father, Olav V. During his 35-year reign, he was dedicated to making the royal family more accessible to the Norwegian public and pushing for more modernization within the institution.
Royals from all over the world came out to pay their respects to the late monarch at his state funeral service, held at the Oslo Cathedral. Notably, King Felipe, Queen Letizia, and Queen Sofia of Spain, as well as Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco, were present. However, King Charles III, who has lessened his travels since being diagnosed with cancer in 2024, notably missed the ceremony.
Background
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country comprising the western and northernmost parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe, the remote Arctic island Jan Mayen and the archipelago Svalbard. Bouvet Island, located in the Subantarctic, is a dependency, and not a part of the Kingdom; Norway also claims the Antarctic territories of Peter I Island and Queen Maud Land.
What's still developing
- Harald, who died on August 28 aged 89, was Europe’s oldest reigning monarch and had been on the throne for 35 years.
- His son became King Haakon VIII immediately, and last week swore an oath of allegiance to Norway’s constitution in parliament.
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