Oslo, Sept 10:
Norway on Wednesday bid a solemn farewell to King Harald V, with thousands of people gathering in Oslo for the state funeral of the popular monarch who died at the age of 89 after a 35-year reign.
The funeral was held at Oslo Cathedral and was attended by members of the Norwegian royal family, foreign monarchs, political leaders and other dignitaries from more than 20 countries. Large crowds lined the streets as the king’s coffin was taken from the Royal Palace to the cathedral.
A 21-gun salute marked the beginning of the funeral procession. King Harald’s son, Haakon, who succeeded him as King of Norway, took part in the procession along with Queen Sonja and other members of the royal family.
The ceremony included a nationwide moment of silence as the country paused to remember the monarch. More than 46,000 people had earlier visited the royal chapel to pay their respects while Harald’s coffin lay in state.
Harald, who became king in 1991, was widely admired for his informal and approachable personality. Unlike several other ageing European monarchs who eventually abdicated, Harald remained on the throne until his death.
He was also known for his sporting interests, particularly sailing, and represented Norway at the Olympic Games. Over three decades on the throne, he was seen as a monarch who helped maintain the relevance of the Norwegian royal institution while retaining a close connection with ordinary people.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and other Norwegian leaders paid tribute to Harald’s service to the country. Foreign royal families, including representatives from Britain, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and Japan, were among those attending the funeral.
Following the funeral service, King Harald was laid to rest in a private ceremony at Akershus Fortress, a historic site associated with Norway’s royal family.
The funeral brought 13 days of national mourning to a close and marked the end of the reign of one of Norway’s longest-serving and most popular modern monarchs.