Norway has been in mourning since Friday, August 28, when King Harald V died at 89, closing out a 35-year reign. The King was a beloved figure in Norway, gaining the reputation of the nation's grandfather.
© NTB/AFP via Getty ImagesThe affection wasn't confined to his own country. Across Europe's royal courts, Harald was well liked among kings and princes alike — a monarch who, despite his age, had a knack for connecting with the generation coming up behind him. That reputation is why his funeral, taking place today, September 9, in Oslo, is shaping up to be more than a solemn state occasion: several royal houses, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Japan, have already confirmed they're sending representatives, and a striking number of them will be crown princes and princesses — heirs who, one day, will themselves wear a crown.
Norway's security machine, "Operation K," is already running
The security operation triggered by Harald's death — known internally as "Operation K," or "Handlingsplan K" in Norwegian — began the moment he died, and it's mobilizing a security presence Norway hasn't seen in years.
The "K" stands for "Kongen," Norwegian for "the King." The operation is a standing protocol, drafted by Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs following the death of King Olav V in 1991, and has been refined ever since, reportedly with the input of British planners who helped organize Queen Elizabeth II's funeral.
With so many heads of state and royal delegations converging on Oslo, the capital is bracing for the kind of turnout it hasn't had in a generation, all building toward Wednesday's state funeral.
© NTB/AFP via Getty ImagesSweden is sending its royal family in full force
Few royal houses felt Harald's death as personally as Sweden's. King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia will attend alongside their three children and their spouses. They'll also be joined by Princess Christina, with practically the entire Swedish royal family in attendance.
Crown Princess Victoria, Harald's goddaughter, has spoken openly about how hard his death has affected her.
Victoria and Akishino: the elder statesmen of the next generation
© AFP via Getty ImagesIf there's a duo presiding informally over this gathering of heirs, it's Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Crown Prince Akishino of Japan (Fumihito), the senior-most figures among the world's crown princes and princesses.
That two such different heirs, from opposite ends of the globe, felt moved to be there says something about how broadly Harald was respected.
Ingrid, Amalia and Christian: reunited under very different circumstances
© Getty ImagesFor several of Europe's youngest royals, Oslo will mark their first time representing their countries at an occasion of this scale — a state funeral drawing dozens of heads of state, rather than the birthdays and galas where they've mostly crossed paths before.
Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, who has begun stepping into her new role as Crown Princess, standing for her mother at her father's proclamation as king, will effectively be the host to many heirs her own age.
Princess Amalia of the Netherlands will be there with her parents, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, and her grandmother, Princess Beatrix. Crown Prince Christian of Denmark will attend alongside his parents, King Frederik X and Queen Mary, and his grandmother, Queen Margrethe, and great-aunt, Princess Benedikte. The Danish royal family's state visit to Belgium, originally scheduled for this week, has been postponed.
Several members of this group, along with Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, have already met at happier occasions, like Ingrid's and Christian's 18th-birthday celebrations. Out of all of them, Amalia has kept up the most consistent presence on the international royal circuit, where she seems to move with ease.
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