Danish royal ship heads into the Oslo Fjord

The Danish royal ship Dannebrog and several naval vessels are sailing into the Oslo Fjord in what Norway’s armed forces describe as a final salute to King Harald V.

Defense press officer Aleksander Hage told NTB that the vessels were gathering in formation in the outer Oslo Fjord. They were expected to pass Oscarsborg Fortress outside Drøbak at around 11:30 and reach Oslo at about 13:30 on Tuesday.

The force is led by the frigate Fridtjof Nansen and includes the Coast Guard vessels Hopen and Nornen, followed by the minesweeper Rauma. The vessels will remain in port throughout Wednesday and leave again on Thursday, Hage said.

The arrival of foreign royals, heads of state and other official representatives for the funeral is also expected to affect traffic well beyond Oslo. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration has warned of “very challenging traffic conditions” in the capital, with disruptions expected on the E6 and on Route 159 between Lillestrøm and Karihaugen.

Tuesday is the public’s last opportunity to pass King Harald’s coffin in the Palace Chapel. About 5,000 people had visited each day since the viewing opened, while nearly 7,000 people passed the coffin on Saturday after the palace extended its opening hours. The funeral will take place on Wednesday, with the coffin transported from the Royal Palace to Oslo Cathedral and then to the royal mausoleum beneath the castle church at Akershus Fortress.

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A final salute to the monarch.