As the world watches King Harald V’s funeral today, Norway is marking a historic moment filled with centuries-old royal tradition. Following the service at Oslo Cathedral, the late monarch will be laid to rest at the Royal Mausoleum at Akershus Fortress, joining generations of Norwegian kings and queens.
His final farewell also offers a glimpse into the traditions that have shaped Europe’s royal families for centuries. From the historic chapels of Windsor and the royal tombs of Frogmore to secluded family estates and grand mausoleums, here is a look back at where some of Europe’s most famous kings, queens, princes and princesses have been laid to rest.
Queen Elizabeth II
© BettmannQueen Elizabeth II died in 2022 at age 96. Her state funeral took place on September 19 at Westminster Abbey.
The Queen’s final resting place is St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. She was buried in the King George VI Memorial Chapel alongside her husband, Prince Philip; her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother; and her sister, Princess Margaret.
Prince Philip
© PNA RotaQueen Elizabeth II’s husband, Prince Philip, died in 2021 at age 99.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s body was temporarily interred in the Royal Vault, but after the Queen’s death the following year, he was transferred to the King George VI Memorial Chapel to be laid to rest beside her.
Princess Diana
© Anwar HusseinThe beloved Princess of Wales died in 1997 in a car crash in Paris. She was just 36 years old.
Diana was buried at Althorp, her family’s estate in Northamptonshire, England, where she spent much of her childhood.
Queen Victoria
© Universal History ArchiveQueen Victoria died in 1901 at age 81. She was interred in the Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore in Windsor Great Park, next to her husband, Prince Albert, who had died 40 years earlier.
King Edward VIII
© Patrick LichfieldKing George VI’s brother and Wallis Simpson’s husband, who famously abdicated after less than a year on the throne, died of natural causes in 1972 at age 77.
King Edward VIII was buried in the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore after his funeral service took place at St. George’s Chapel.
Wallis Simpson
© BettmannEdward VIII’s wife died in 1986 at age 89. The woman for whom Edward abdicated was originally expected to be buried alongside her father at Green Mount Cemetery in Baltimore.
However, it was later agreed that she would be buried alongside Edward at the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore.
King Harald V
© HandoutKing Harald V of Norway will be laid to rest on Wednesday (09.09.26), with a funeral procession followed by a service at Oslo Cathedral attended by guests including Prince William. The service was followed by a private burial in Norway’s royal mausoleum at Akershus Fortress, a medieval castle located on the shores of the Oslofjord.
Princess Grace of Monaco
© Keystone-FranceThe Hollywood actress turned Princess of Monaco tragically died in 1982 at age 52 following a car crash. She is buried at the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate in Monaco-Ville alongside her husband, Prince Rainier III, who died in 2005.
Prince Henrik of Denmark
© BettmannThe late husband of Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II was cremated following his death at age 83 in 2018, with half of his ashes scattered in Danish waters and the other half buried in the private royal gardens at Fredensborg Palace.
Prince Henrik’s decision to break with royal tradition was seen as a reflection of his frustration at never being named King Consort.
King Baudouin
© Central PressKing Baudouin of Belgium died unexpectedly at age 62 in 1993 after suffering a heart attack while on vacation in Spain.
He was interred in the royal vault at the Church of Our Lady of Laeken in Brussels, where his wife, Queen Fabiola, was laid to rest alongside him following her death in 2014.
![LIVE: King Harald V’s funeral - Royal families from around the world gather in Oslo to say goodbye [Updating]](https://www.hola.com/us/horizon/square/7040d703004a-oslo-norway-in-this-handout-photo-provided-by-the-royal-court-king-harald-v-of-n.jpg)
