mourning period

King Harald V’s final journey revealed as Norway announces funeral plans

The day is expected to begin with a private ceremony at the Royal Palace attended by the monarch’s closest relatives.

AUGUST 31, 2026 11:45 AM EDTAUG 31, 2026, 11:45 AM EDT

Norway has announced the date of King Harald V’s funeral. The late monarch, who died on Friday, August 28, at the age of 89, will be laid to rest on Wednesday, September 9, following a service at Oslo Cathedral.

How Norway will say goodbye to King Harald:

The day is expected to begin with a private ceremony at the Royal Palace attended by the monarch’s closest relatives. A ceremonial procession will then carry King Harald’s coffin from the palace along Karl Johans gate before turning onto Kirkegata and continuing toward Oslo Cathedral.

Members of the Norwegian royal family will be joined by representatives of the country’s institutions, members of Norwegian society and international guests. Dedicated public and press areas will be established along the procession route as mourners gather in the capital.

King Harald V will be laid to rest at Akershus Fortress following his funeral at Oslo Cathedral on September 9.

A 21-gun salute is also expected to be fired from Akershus Fortress in tribute to the late King.

King Harald’s final journey to Akershus:

Following the funeral service, a smaller procession will accompany the coffin from Oslo Cathedral to Akershus Castle Church, where a private ceremony will be held.

The gathering is expected to include the royal family, members of other European royal houses, foreign guests and a limited number of representatives from Norway’s official institutions.

Taking the throne in January 1991, King Harald V became Norway’s first home-born monarch in over 560 years, adopting the historic motto “All for Norway.”

King Harald will ultimately be laid to rest in the Royal Mausoleum at Akershus Fortress, alongside members of his family, including his parents, King Olav V and Crown Princess Märtha, and his grandparents, King Haakon VII and Queen Maud.

Following the burial, a double royal salute is reportedly set to be fired from the fortress. Flags across Norway, which have been flying at half-mast during the mourning period, will then be raised to full staff.

Norway’s royal family has united in grief as the country prepares to bid a final farewell to King Harald V.

King Haakon VIII’s salute from the palace balcony:

Once the ceremonies at Akershus have concluded, the royal family and other attendees are expected to return to the Royal Palace in a procession of vehicles.

King Haakon VIII and his family will then appear on the palace balcony to greet the people of Norway. A reception for members of the Norwegian government, relatives, foreign representatives and other funeral guests is expected to follow inside the palace.

King Haakon VIII and Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra joined by Norwegian government ministers during an extraordinary council of state at the Royal Palace. — King Haakon VIII and Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra will take part in the solemn ceremonies marking King Harald V’s final farewell.

The public will be able to pay their respects:

King Harald’s coffin was moved from the Red Salon to the Royal Chapel on Monday, August 31, in a solemn procession through the palace.

The late King’s children and grandchildren carried the coffin, while Queen Sonja and Queen Mette-Marit followed behind. The crown, the Sword of State and several of Harald’s most important Norwegian and international orders were also included in the procession.

King Harald V and Queen Sonja, whose 58th wedding anniversary fell on the exact day of King Haakon VIII’s first address.

The coffin was placed on a velvet-covered catafalque in the chapel and draped with the royal standard, surrounded by wreaths and floral tributes from the family.

Members of the public will be able to file past the coffin and say a final goodbye beginning Tuesday, September 1, at 2 p.m. The Royal Chapel will remain open for public visits until 6 p.m. on September 8, the day before the funeral.

Mourners gather at a makeshift memorial of flowers to pay tribute to King Harald V of Norway who passed away, at the Royal Palace square in Oslo on August 28, 2026. — Norwegians unite in mourning as the nation prepares to say its final goodbye to King Harald V.

King Harald’s final days:

King Harald died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet at 6:35 a.m. on August 28. He had been hospitalized since August 17, initially receiving treatment related to anemia before his health deteriorated following a bacterial infection in his bloodstream.

Norway's King Haakon VIII accompanied by Dean Oyvind Stabrun and followed by Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Queen Sonja and Prince Sverre Magnus, walks down the aisle to attend a memorial church service for the late King Harald V at Asker Church.

His coffin was transported to the Royal Palace later that day, accompanied by members of the royal family. Despite heavy rain, mourners lined parts of the route and later gathered outside the palace to leave flowers, candles and handwritten messages.

Harald’s son immediately succeeded him as King Haakon VIII. In his first address as sovereign, the new King remembered his father as a warm and devoted family man and thanked Norwegians for mourning alongside the royal family.

Flowers, candles, and handwritten notes left by thousands of mourners in Palace Square following King Harald V’s passing.