Oslo, Sept 9. (dpa/GNA) – Norway’s late King Harald V, arrived at his final resting place on Wednesday, after a funeral procession through Oslo attended by European royalty.
Live footage from Norwegian broadcaster NRK, showed the coffin carrying the monarch’s body, reaching the garrison church at Akershus Fortress in the early afternoon.
The church holds the royal mausoleum, where the father of the new King Haakon VIII, was laid to rest, shortly afterwards in a private ceremony for the royal family and other state dignitaries.
Prominent international guests were in attendance for the procession, including Britain’s Prince William, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
“We are deeply grateful for the 35 years we have spent with King Harald as King of Norway, but above all, for the way in which he has been king,” said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in his eulogy for the monarch. He said Harald celebrated with the Norwegian people, but also mourned with them.
The Prime Minister, cited as an example, the after math of the right-wing terrorist attacks in Oslo’s government quarter and on the island of Utøya on July 22, 2011. “King Harald gave his all for Norway,” said Støre. “On behalf of the Norwegian people, I say: Thank you for everything.”
The prime minister then turned to the new King Haakon to add: “Long live the King.” Other monarchs in attendance included King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, King Felipe VI of Spain, and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands.
Harald’s coffin was brought to the crypt, which contains the coffins of the first two royal couples of independent Norway, those of Harald’s grandparents King Haakon VII and Queen Maud as well as Harald’s parents King Olav V and Crown Princess Märtha.
After the ceremony, the new King Haakon and his wife, Queen Mette-Marit, came into the fortress courtyard.
The flags flying at half-mast will then be raised again, and a double royal salute will be fired. At the same time, church bells across the country are to ring for an hour.
Later in the afternoon, the royal family – Haakon and Mette-Marit, their two children Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, and Harald’s widow Queen Sonja, appeared on the balcony of the Royal Palace in Oslo.
They were greeted by many minutes of applause from the crowd, which visibly moved the new queen.
The crowd greeted the king’s widow, Sonja, with special applause, when she joined the rest of the royal family on the balcony.
With tears in her eyes, Queen Sonja placed her hand on her heart and, together with her family, waved to the crowd.
According to the NTB news agency, police estimated that around 25,000 to 30,000 people gathered in the square. Tens of thousands had earlier lined the streets during the funeral procession through the Norwegian capital.
King Harald died in hospital on August 28 at the age of 89.
The monarch, who was extremely popular with Norwegians, had been head of state of the wealthy Scandinavian country for more than 35 years.
His son, Haakon, became the new king, at his father’s death.
A few days later, the 53-year-old took the oath to the constitution in the Oslo parliament.
GNA