European Royals Gather in Oslo to Honor King Harald V

Wed Sep 09 2026 19:34:20 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A wave of royal dignitaries and heads of state assembled in Oslo for the funeral of Norway’s King Harald V, who passed away at 89.

The funeral of King Harald V drew dozens of European royals and heads of state, including the Prince of Wales, Swedish, Danish and Norwegian monarchs, and global leaders such as Ukraine’s Zelensky and Germany’s Steinmeier. Thousands lined the procession route from the royal palace to Oslo Cathedral, and a minute’s silence was observed nationwide. The ceremony saw the new King Haakon, Queen Mette‑Marit, and Queen Sonja greet crowds from a balcony, while ceremonial troops marched at Akershus Fortress. The Service concluded with F‑35 jets flying overhead and the coffin carried to the palace chapel for a private burial alongside Harald’s ancestors.

European Royals Gather in Oslo to Honor King Harald V

The funeral of Norway’s King Harald V attracted a host of European royals and heads of state, drawing a solemn crowd along the route from the royal palace to Oslo Cathedral. Three weeks after his death on 28 August, the late king was 89 and had reigned for 35 years, a period characterised by a blend of tradition and modernity.

People lined the streets in the capital, and a minute’s silence echoed throughout the country. In a powerful display of respect, the new King Haakon, Queen Mette‑Marit, Queen Sonja, and Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra greeted thousands from the palace balcony. The funeral service at Oslo Cathedral was attended by Prince William, representing King Charles III, the Princess Royal, and a cluster of nobility from Sweden, Denmark, Jordan, Monaco, Belgium, Spain, Japan and other nations.

Front‑line security and ceremonial troops assembled at Akershus Fortress, where the coffin was carried to the castle chapel. Four F‑35 fighter jets completed the ceremony in a “missing man” formation overhead before the royal family and their guests entered for a private burial. The ceremony was also attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and German President Frank‑Walter Steinmeier, alongside several foreign prime ministers.

During the service, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre delivered a eulogy praising Harald for balancing stature and approachability, claiming he made Norway “greater”. In the moments after the minute’s silence, a mobile phone alarm briefly interrupted a bell toll, a minor hiccup that did not detract from the ceremony’s solemnity.

Following the burial, the royal family appeared on the balcony of the palace and waved to tens of thousands of people gathered outside, displaying gratitude for their support during the mourning period. Despite a tumultuous final year marked by personal scandals and legal challenges within the family, the late king was remembered as a beloved elder, a “grandfather” to the nation.