OSLO — Norway’s farewell to King Harald V on Wednesday drew royals and political leaders from more than 20 countries to Oslo, turning the funeral of the long-serving monarch into a major international event, CNN reported.
Thousands of Norwegians lined the streets as Harald’s coffin was taken from the royal palace to Oslo Cathedral, while monarchs from Sweden, Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Monaco and Jordan joined the ceremony. Britain’s Prince William, Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky were also among the foreign dignitaries present, according to CNN.
Harald, who died on August 28 at the age of 89, was Europe’s oldest reigning monarch and had occupied the Norwegian throne for 35 years. His death marked the end of a significant royal era, with his son, King Haakon VIII, succeeding him and assuming responsibility for the continuation of Norway’s constitutional monarchy.
The scale of the public mourning underscored Harald’s popularity at home, as more than 46,000 people reportedly visited his coffin while it lay in state, while thousands more gathered along Oslo’s streets to witness the funeral procession.
At the service, Norway’s Parliament Speaker, Masud Gharahkhani, remembered Harald as a monarch who maintained a close relationship with ordinary citizens, particularly recalling his willingness to meet people “in his rubber boots” and his advocacy for vulnerable members of society.
The funeral, marked by a 21-gun salute and a nationwide minute of silence, brought together Norway’s royal family, citizens and international dignitaries in a ceremony that both honoured Harald’s legacy and signalled the beginning of a new chapter for the Norwegian monarchy under King Haakon VIII, CNN reported.
