Tens of thousands line the streets as Norway bids farewell to King Harald V
Europe’s royals and global political figures attend ceremony that brings 13 days of national mourning to a close
TL;DR
- Norway held a state funeral for King Harald V, concluding 13 days of national mourning.
- Tens of thousands lined the streets of Oslo, with foreign heads of state and government attending the ceremony.
- The funeral cortege processed from the royal palace to the cathedral, accompanied by a 21-gun salute.
- The ceremony was attended by royals from Britain, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Japan, as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and dignitaries from over 20 countries.
- Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre described Harald as balancing stateliness with being down-to-earth and making Norway greater.
- Four F-35 fighter jets flew over the cathedral, with one breaking away to symbolize the king's passing.
- The casket was interred in the royal crypt at Akershus fortress in a private ceremony.
- Securing the funeral was the largest planned operation in Norwegian police history.
- Over 46,000 Norwegians had previously filed past the king's casket.
- The royal family has faced recent crises, including criticism of Queen Mette-Marit regarding Jeffrey Epstein.
- Queen Mette-Marit's son, Marius Borg Høiby, who faces legal issues, served as a pall-bearer.
- Despite scandals, the Norwegian monarchy remains broadly popular, with 72% support.
- The article notes that King Harald V died at the age of 89 after ruling for over three decades.