Advertisement
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load.
King Harald V was being buried in Norway on Wednesday in a highly choreographed ceremony that drew royal families, heads of state and thousands of citizens to mourn a monarch widely seen as a unifying force.
Harald died in an Oslo hospital on Aug. 28 at 89. His 35-year-reign as a largely symbolic monarch brought Norwegians together through an economic boom, a period of growing diversity and a brutal terrorist attack by a far-right extremist that killed 77 people. Harald remained a popular figure, affectionately called the “Grandfather of all Norway,” even as public support for the monarchy dwindled with public scandals among a new generation of royals.
In Oslo, large crowds gathered early along the route of the funeral procession, and royals, including Britain’s Prince William as well as figures from the Netherlands, Sweden, Spain and elsewhere, took part.
Image
The leaders of Denmark and Sweden, both close allies of Norway, were attending, as was President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, who met with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store of Norway on Tuesday Ukraine’s air defense.
On Wednesday, proceedings began with a private service for the family in the chapel of Oslo’s Royal Palace. At noon, the armed forces fired 21 shots from stations around the country. The bier was then taken in a silent procession from the palace to the Oslo Cathedral, where the televised funeral service was being held. The king will be buried in a crypt at the palace chapel in a private ceremony.
Advertisement
