Norway and international leaders are gathering in Oslo on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, to bid a final farewell to King Harald V. Known affectionately as the grandfather of the nation, the late monarch passed away on August 28 at the age of 89, drawing royalty and heads of state from across Europe for a solemn state funeral broadcast live across the continent.
A Nation Grieves the Passing of the “Grandfather of All Norway”
King Harald V earned deep affection both at home and abroad. When he passed away at 89, the outpouring of grief across Norway was immediate and profound. Today, on September 9, 2026, that national mourning culminates in a state funeral in Oslo, drawing thousands of citizens to the streets alongside an array of visiting European royalty and international dignitaries.
Organizing a farewell of this scale has proven to be an extraordinary logistical undertaking for the Nordic nation. The formal proceedings begin at midday with a solemn procession carrying the monarch’s coffin from the Royal Palace to the Oslo Cathedral. The event serves as a personal goodbye for a beloved sovereign.
The Schedule of the State Funeral in Oslo
The timeline for today’s state proceedings is meticulously choreographed. Beginning at 12:00 PM local time, the funeral procession winds its way through the heart of the Norwegian capital toward the Oslo Cathedral. A nationwide moment of silence is scheduled to precede the main memorial service, which is set to begin inside the cathedral at 1:00 PM.
Following the religious service, the procession will move toward its final destination at the Akershus Fortress. Within the Akershus Castle Church, a private family ceremony will take place inside the royal mausoleum, where King Harald V will be laid to rest. Afterward, the Norwegian government is hosting a formal memorial reception at the Oslo City Hall, welcoming approximately 450 distinguished guests.
| Time (CET) | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 PM | Departure of Trauerzug & Nationwide Silence | Royal Palace to Oslo Cathedral |
| 1:00 PM | Trauergottesdienst (Memorial Service) | Oslo Cathedral |
| After Service | Procession to Final Resting Place | Akershus Castle Church Mausoleum |
| Afternoon | Official Gedenkfeier | Oslo City Hall (approx. 450 guests) |
Broadcasting the Farewell Across Europe
Recognizing the deep resonance of the late monarch’s passing beyond Norwegian borders, major European broadcasters have mounted extensive live coverage. In Germany, public broadcaster ARD and private network RTL are both dedicating hours of programming to the event.
ARD’s special broadcast, titled „Abschied von König Harald V.“, runs from 12:00 PM to 2:20 PM, anchored by moderator Julia-Niharika Sen alongside royal expert Leontine von Schmettow and Florian Breitmeier, the head of the NDR editorial office for Religion and Society. Simultaneously, RTL is airing „Punkt 12 Spezial – Letzte Ehre für König Harald“ from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, hosted by Katja Burkard and Frauke Ludowig, with reporting live from Oslo by Angela Finger-Erben. Viewers without television access can follow the livestream via the ARD Mediathek and RTL+ platforms, ensuring that the European public remains closely connected to the solemn proceedings in Oslo.””
