Norway Bids Farewell to King Harald V at State Funeral

Norway held a state funeral for King Harald V on Wednesday, with a nationwide minute of silence observed in his memory. The ceremony took place at Oslo's Lutheran cathedral, attended by his son and heir, King Haakon VIII, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Britain's Prince William, and other foreign dignitaries. The funeral procession began at the royal palace, with the king's casket draped in Norway's red royal banner and topped with white flowers, carried on an artillery carriage along the city's main avenue. Thousands of Norwegians lined the streets to pay their respects. King Harald V died on August 28 at the age of 89. He was remembered as a modern and unifying figure, though his reign's end was marked by scandals. Mourners, such as 37-year-old municipal employee Anders Aanerud, expressed their connection to the late monarch, noting he had been king for most of their lives. The funeral drew international attention, reflecting his role as a symbol of national unity.