World leaders attend funeral of Norway's King Harald V in Oslo

September 9, 2026 at 06:08 PM2 min

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World leaders and tens of thousands of Norwegians gathered in Oslo on Tuesday for the funeral of King Harald V, who died on August 28 at age 89. A procession from the Royal Palace to Oslo Cathedral began at noon local time, followed by a service at 13:00. The ceremony drew royalty from across Europe and Asia, as well as heads of state and government.

Key Facts

King Harald V of Norway died on August 28 at the age of 89.
The funeral procession from the Royal Palace to Oslo Cathedral began at 12:00 local time.
Tens of thousands of people lined Karl Johans gate to watch the procession, according to police.
The church service at Oslo Cathedral started at 13:00 with a national minute of silence.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Oslo on Tuesday evening and met with the Norwegian prime minister before the funeral.

Royal Attendees

Members of European and Asian royal families attended the funeral, including King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan, Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko of Japan, King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark, and King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain. Britain's Prince William walked in the procession with his aunt, Princess Anne, who is godmother to Norway's King Haakon. Princess Astrid, King Harald's sister, was among family members inside Oslo Cathedral. Marius Borg Høiby sat in the same row as King Harald's grandson, with representatives of several foreign royal houses seated behind them.

Dignitaries and Public

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen represented the Danish government at the ceremony, according to the prime minister's office. The United States was represented by Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker. Tens of thousands of Norwegians lined the streets along Karl Johans gate as the coffin was carried through the capital. Cannon salutes from Akershus Fortress accompanied the procession.