RismadarVoice Reporters
September 9, 2026
Norway is set to hold the funeral of King Harald V on Wednesday, marking the end of 13 days of national mourning following the monarch’s death at the age of 89.
The ceremony will bring together members of the Norwegian royal family, foreign dignitaries and thousands of citizens who are expected to gather in Oslo to pay their final respects to the king, who ruled the country for more than three decades.
A procession carrying King Harald’s coffin will begin from the Royal Palace to Oslo Cathedral, where a state funeral service will be held. The ceremony will begin with a nationwide minute of silence.
Among the international guests expected to attend are Britain’s Prince William and Princess Anne, Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, Spain’s King Felipe, Queen Letizia, Queen Sofia, Sweden’s royal family, and Denmark’s King Frederik and Queen Mary.
King Harald’s successor, King Haakon VIII, is expected to lead the royal family during the funeral ceremonies. Queen Mette-Marit is also expected to attend but will travel by car alongside Queen Sonja as she continues recovering from a lung transplant carried out earlier in the year.
Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Queen Mette-Marit from a previous relationship, is also expected at the funeral while appealing a conviction related to rape and domestic violence charges.
Norwegian police described the funeral security operation as the largest planned operation in the force’s history due to the expected turnout in central Oslo. Schools have also allowed students to miss classes to attend the event.
Hundreds of thousands of Norwegians have paid tribute to King Harald by leaving flowers, candles and flags outside the Royal Palace and visiting his coffin at the royal chapel.
The late monarch was widely praised for his accessibility and efforts to modernise the Norwegian monarchy during his reign. Public support for the institution remains strong, with recent polling showing a majority of Norwegians continuing to support the monarchy.
Following the funeral service, King Harald’s coffin will be taken to the royal crypt at Akershus Fortress, where it will be placed alongside the remains of his parents. The national mourning period will officially end after the burial ceremony.
