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Norway Mourns as King Harald Is Laid to Rest

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Norway held the funeral of King Harald V on Wednesday, marking the end of 13 days of national mourning following his death at the age of 89. Large crowds gathered in Oslo as a procession carried his coffin from the royal palace to Oslo Cathedral, accompanied by cannon fire from Akershus Fortress and a nationwide minute of silence.

The funeral was attended by members of European and Asian royal families, including Britain’s Prince William and Princess Anne, Spain’s King Felipe and Queen Letizia, and Denmark’s King Frederik and Queen Mary. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy also joined the procession, while the United States was represented by Under-Secretary of State Allison Hooker. Queen Sonja and Norway’s new Queen Mette-Marit also attended despite Mette-Marit’s recent health complications.

Harald, who ruled Norway for more than three decades, remained a widely respected and popular monarch known for his inclusive approach. Hundreds of thousands of Norwegians had paid tribute by leaving flowers, candles and flags outside the Royal Palace. Following the funeral, his coffin was taken to the royal crypt at Akershus Fortress, where it was placed alongside those of his parents, formally ending the national mourning period.

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Norway’s King Harald V Dies at 89 After 35 Years on the Throne

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Norway’s King Harald V has died aged 89 after being treated for a rare blood condition. He passed away peacefully at 06:35 local time on Friday at the national hospital in Oslo. The royal flag was lowered to half-mast as the country entered a period of mourning. His son, Crown Prince Haakon, 53, has succeeded him as king.

Harald, who became king in 1991, was widely regarded as a popular and modernising monarch. He broke royal tradition by marrying commoner Sonja Haraldsen in 1968 and became known for his emotional, down-to-earth approach. He also played a unifying role following the 2011 Oslo and Utøya attacks and publicly supported diversity, including different religions, ethnicities and sexual orientations.

His final years were marked by declining health and challenges within the royal family, including controversies surrounding his daughter-in-law Mette-Marit and her son Marius Borg Høiby. Despite these difficulties, Harald remained personally popular among Norwegians, with royal observers describing him as the “People’s king.” He is survived by Queen Sonja, their children and six grandchildren.

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King Harald’s Condition Turns Critical

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Norwegians have gathered outside the Royal Palace in Oslo to lay flowers and express their support for King Harald V after the Norwegian royal household said his condition had become “extremely serious.” The 89-year-old monarch has been receiving treatment at Oslo University Hospital for haemolytic anaemia, a rare blood disorder, and has been in hospital for 10 days.

Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon and other members of the royal family cancelled their engagements to remain at the king’s bedside. Crown Prince Haakon, 53, who is next in line to the throne, has been serving as regent while his father is on leave. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre also cancelled a planned trip to Germany, saying the entire nation was sending warm thoughts to the king and his family.

King Harald, who has been on the throne since 1991, is Europe’s oldest head of state and has faced several health problems in recent years. He received a pacemaker in 2024 after falling ill during a holiday in Malaysia. The royal family has also faced other challenges this year, including Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s lung transplant and the conviction of her son Marius Borg Høiby.

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