Norway bids farewell to late King Harald

Norway bid farewell to King Harald V on Wednesday following his passing at the age of 89. The late monarch, known for his reformist policies, was laid to rest in a state funeral marred by his death during a period of crises for the royal family. The funeral procession, filled with pomp and ceremony, drew tens of thousands of mourners who lined the streets, many wearing traditional regional costumes.

European royals and heads of state, including Britain’s Prince William, Japan’s Crown Prince, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, joined Norwegian dignitaries on foot during the procession. Zelenskiy, who met with Norway's Prime Minister earlier that day about Russia's ongoing conflict, received applause from the crowd upon exiting the cathedral.

Harald was praised by Norwegians for his inclusive approach, evident in the sentiment expressed by onlookers as they witnessed the procession. Queen Mette-Marit and Queen Sonja, the widow of the late king, attended the funeral, with the latter recently recovering from a lung transplant. Despite recent controversies, such as the presence of rapist and domestic abuser, Hedda Michaelsen Mehlum, among the pall-bearers, support for the monarchy remained strong, with 72% of Norwegians backing the institution according to a recent poll.

The national mourning period formally ended after a procession of Harald's coffin to the royal crypt, with the national flag raised fully once more.