On 9 September, a gathering of royal figures and heads of state from across Europe converged in Oslo to pay their last respects to King Harald V of Norway. The funeral procession began at the royal palace, with tens of thousands lining the route as the king’s coffin was carried to Oslo Cathedral for a brief service.
The ceremony at the cathedral was followed by a private burial at Akershus Fortress. King Haakon walked beside the coffin along with his sister Princess Märtha Louise and children Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus. Queen Mette‑Marit, who had recently undergone a successful lung transplant, and Queen Sonja traveled with the family in a car.
International dignitaries were present, including Prince William of the United Kingdom, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and German President Frank‑Walter Steinmeier, among others. Several European royals, such as the Prince of Wales and Nordic kings, joined the funeral, underscoring the monarch’s widespread respect.
In a visibly moving moment, Mette‑Marit wiped away tears while a cell‑phone alarm briefly disrupted a minute‑of‑silence at the cathedral. Queen Sonja laid a red rose on the coffin, and four F‑35 jets flew over the cathedral in a “missing man” formation to honour the king.
After the burial, the royal family returned to the palace balcony and waved to an estimated 50,000 mourners gathered outside. Norwegian flags were flown from half‑mast to full‑mast to signify the conclusion of the ceremony, marking a solemn farewell to a king who reigned for 35 years.
