Details of the Funeral of King Harald V of Norway

Following the passing of King Harald V and the Accession of King Haakon VIII, Royalty and Heads of State from the around the World will join the Norwegian Royal Family in the Procession from the Royal Palace of Oslo for the Funeral of King Harald V of Norway at Oslo Cathedral on Wednesday, followed by a Procession to the Akershus Fortress for the Burial.

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King Harald V’s Coffin will leave the Royal Palace on Wednesday, September 9 at 12:00 and be taken in procession to Oslo Cathedral. The Coffin is followed by His Majesty the King, Her Majesty the Queen, Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Queen Sonja, Prince Sverre Magnus and Princess Märtha Louise. Foreign Royalty, Heads of State and Prime Ministers, representatives of official Norway and representatives of the Royal Court also participate in the procession.

At 1:00 p.m., King Harald V will be laid to rest in Oslo Cathedral. The ceremony will be led by Pres. Olav Fykse Tveit and will follow the Church of Norway’s funeral arrangements. Oslo Bishop Sunniva Gylver will also contribute. Music will play an important role in the ceremony. Cathedral Cantor Marcus André Berg will lead the church music together with the Oslo Cathedral Choir. At the beginning of the ceremony, there will be a minute of silence throughout the country, which will begin and end with three bells. The President of the Storting and the Prime Minister will give memorial speeches. There will be candlelight vigils by representatives of different faiths and philosophies. King Harald’s family and close friends will be present. The entire official Norwegian government will be represented, along with guests representing the breadth of King Harald’s life and work. There will also be Royal Guests and Heads of State from a number of countries.

After the funeral, the coffin will be taken in procession to Akershus Castle Church. There will be a private ceremony for the family and royal guests. The President of the Storting, the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the presidents of Iceland and Finland will also be present. The bier is lowered into the crypt in the Palace Church, where the two sarcophagi of King Haakon, Queen Maud, King Olav and Crown Princess Märtha are.

After the ceremony in Akershus Castle Church, His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen will come out into the courtyard of Akershus Fortress. The flags that have been flying at half-mast will be raised to their highest point, and a double royal salute will be fired. At the same time, the country’s church bells will ring for one hour. His Majesty the King, Her Majesty the Queen, Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess, Queen Sonja and Prince Sverre Magnus drive back to the Royal Palace along the same route that the procession has taken.

After arriving back at the Palace, Norway’s new royal couple, Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess, Queen Sonja and Prince Sverre Magnus, will appear on the Palace balcony. The time for this will be announced.

Their Majesties the King and Queen will hold a reception at the Palace after the funeral ceremony, which will be attended by representatives of official Norway, visiting Heads of State, Royals and Family.