Future European monarchs gather in Oslo for King Harald V's funeral
Crown Princess Ingrid of Norway, Princess Amalia of the Netherlands and Crown Prince Christian of Denmark will attend King Harald V's state funeral in Oslo, joined by numerous heirs from across Europe and Japan.
Norway entered a period of official mourning on August 28 after King Harald V died at age 89, ending a 35-year reign. The state funeral is scheduled for September 9 in Oslo, and representatives from several royal families, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Japan, are expected to attend. Many of the delegations will be led by crown princes and princesses who are heirs to their respective thrones.
The Norwegian security plan activated after the king’s death, known internally as “Operation K,” has mobilised a heightened security presence in the capital. The protocol, originally drafted after the 1991 death of King Olav V and later refined with input from British planners, is designed to manage large-scale state events.
Sweden will send a full royal delegation, with King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia, their three children and spouses, as well as Princess Christina. Crown Princess Victoria, who was a goddaughter of the late king, has expressed personal sorrow over his passing.
Among the younger heirs, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Crown Prince Fumihito (Akishino) of Japan are expected to be prominent figures at the ceremony, reflecting the broad respect for the late monarch.
In Oslo, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway will host several peers her own age. Princess Amalia of the Netherlands will attend with King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima and former queen Beatrix. Crown Prince Christian of Denmark will be joined by King Frederik X, Queen Mary, Queen Margrethe and Princess Benedikte. The Danish royal family’s state visit to Belgium has been postponed to accommodate the funeral.