Europe's royalty pay respects to King Harald V in Norway
Key Points:
- Dozens of European royals and heads of state, including the Prince of Wales and three Nordic kings, attended King Harald V's funeral in Oslo, with thousands lining the procession route nearly two weeks after his death at age 89.
- The Norwegian royal family, led by new King Haakon, participated in the ceremony, which included a minute's silence observed nationwide and a eulogy praising Harald's balance of dignity and approachability.
- The funeral saw attendance from 30 royal figures and several heads of state, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, reflecting Harald's international respect.
- Despite recent family scandals, including revelations about Queen Mette-Marit's past contact with Jeffrey Epstein and her son's criminal conviction, the royal family presented a united front during the mourning period.
- Harald was laid to rest at Akershus Fortress alongside previous monarchs, with a final military tribute of four F-35 jets in missing man formation, and the royal family publicly thanked the public for their support.