Norway is putting the final touches on the arrangements for the state funeral of King Harald V, which will take place on September 9 and will set in motion an institutional and security operation unlike anything the country has seen before. The capital is preparing for a ceremony of enormous significance, marked by solemnity, the presence of international delegations, and an exceptional military display.
© Det Norske KongehusetIn this context, and according to information published by Norwegian outlets such as Aftenposten, the police are coordinating the largest security operation ever carried out in Norway. Approximately 6,500 police officers and soldiers will be involved, including around 3,500 soldiers. The operation will cover the axis linking the Royal Palace, Oslo Cathedral, and Akershus Fortress, where giant screens will also be installed so people can follow the ceremony.
A large section of central Oslo will also be closed to vehicle traffic, with security checkpoints in place around the secured area. The scale of the deployment responds both to the state nature of the event and to the presence of representatives of royal families and authorities from around the world.
© CORNELIUS POPPEWhat is ‘Operation K’?
Like other monarchies, Norway has a specific protocol to manage the death of a sovereign: “Operation K,” named after the word konge (“king” in Norwegian). This plan, designed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, sets out every phase that must be activated from the moment of death through to the state funeral. On August 28, when the death of King Harald V was confirmed, the protocol was launched immediately. Since then, authorities have coordinated the institutional preparations, the security operation, and the organization of the international delegations that will attend the funeral on September 9th.
© LISE ASERUDHow King Harald’s funeral will unfold
The route of the coffin
The official day will begin at 12:00 p.m., when the King’s coffin leaves the Royal Palace in a black Mercedes-Benz Geländewagen military vehicle, draped with the royal standard, and accompanied by the crown and the Sword of the Realm. At that moment, 21 cannon salutes will be fired from Akershus and other military installations. In addition, six generals and admirals, including Chief of Defense Eirik Kristoffersen, will accompany the coffin in the procession from the Palace to Oslo Cathedral, as reported by Norwegian outlet TV2.
The funeral service at Oslo Cathedral will begin at 1:00 p.m. One particularly moving moment will take place at the same time, when Norway comes to a standstill for one minute to pay tribute to the monarch. The minute of silence will be observed nationwide: even public transportation will stop at the nearest station or stop to join in the gesture. The minute will begin with three chimes from church bells across the country, and three more chimes will mark its end.
© OLE BERG-RUSTENAfter the service at the Cathedral, a much smaller second procession is scheduled for around 2:00 p.m. to accompany the coffin to the Royal Mausoleum at Akershus Fortress, where a private ceremony will be held for the family, European royal houses, and a small group of Norwegian institutional representatives. The Royal Mausoleum will be the final resting place of King Harald. After the burial, there will be a double royal salute from the fortress itself.
Once the funeral is concluded, a motorcade will take the royal family and the rest of the guests back to the Royal Palace, where the new monarch, Haakon VIII, and his family will greet the crowds gathered in the square from the balcony. An official reception will then be held for members of the Norwegian government, foreign delegations, and the relatives and guests attending the funeral. With this gesture, the official protocol for the late King Harald will formally come to an end.
© ODD ANDERSENWhich royals are attending King Harald’s funeral?
International attendance will be broad and high-level. So far, seven of the ten reigning monarchies have confirmed that they will be in Oslo. Among the delegations, one of the most notable is the Swedish royal family, who will attend in force, led by King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia, along with their three children and their partners. Princess Christina will also be there, accompanied by Tord Magnuson, underscoring the close ties that have always united the two royal houses.
From Denmark, King Frederik and Queen Mary, Crown Prince Christian, Queen Margrethe, and Princess Benedikte will travel to Oslo. The House of Orange-Nassau has also confirmed its attendance: King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, Crown Princess Amalia, and Princess Beatrix.
© Michael CampanellaKing Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain and Queen Sofía will also travel to Oslo to stand with the Norwegian royal family at King Harald V’s funeral. From Belgium, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde will attend; Monaco will be represented by Prince Albert II; and Liechtenstein by the Hereditary Prince and Princess, Alois and Sophie. The Imperial House of Japan will send Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko.
With this impressive turnout of royal and official delegations, Oslo is preparing for a day of enormous institutional importance, with the international presence reflecting King Harald V’s standing both in Norway and abroad. The capital now faces a day defined by solemnity and by the coordination of an operation without precedent, bringing a national tribute to a close while marking the beginning of a new chapter for the Norwegian royal family under Haakon VIII.
