3,500 military personnel to support King Harald’s funeral

About 3,500 members of Norway’s armed forces will take part in King Harald V’s funeral on Wednesday, with personnel coming from across the country and rehearsing for the ceremony.

Around 1,900 soldiers will form a ceremonial line along the coffin’s route from the Royal Palace to Oslo Cathedral and then to Akershus Fortress. Another 1,200 personnel will serve as honor guards or military bands, while 200 soldiers will handle flag ceremonies in the capital. A further 100 will manage the salutes, including both a mourning salute and a royal salute.

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We are in the planning phase, but we also want to mark this.

Six generals and admirals, including Chief of Defence Eirik Kristoffersen, will join the procession carrying the coffin from the palace to Oslo Cathedral. The military will not rehearse in central Oslo before the funeral.

Norway’s public transport system will also observe the occasion. Trams, buses and trains will stop for one minute as the ceremony at Oslo Cathedral begins, from 1 p.m. to 1:01 p.m. Ruter said vehicles in the capital region would pull into the nearest stop, while Vy plans similar arrangements nationwide. Trains will stop at the nearest station rather than inside tunnels, and a message about King Harald will be read when they stop.

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When the trains stop, a message about our beloved King Harald will be read.