Difficult to estimate waiting times to pay respects to King Harald V

By Sunday, 3,290 people had filed past King Harald V’s coffin, after 6,960 people came to pay their respects on Saturday. The queues on Saturday morning stretched for as long as seven hours, although the wait fell below an hour later in the day.

Around 11 a.m. on Sunday, visitors still faced an estimated five-hour wait to pass the coffin in the Palace Chapel. The Royal House expected the queue to become considerably shorter during the afternoon, but said it was difficult to estimate how waiting times and the total number of visitors would develop through the day.

The mourning procession’s order was also released. King Haakon, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Prince Sverre Magnus and Princess Märtha Louise will walk behind the coffin. Queen Mette-Marit and Queen Sonja will follow in one of the king’s cars, an Audi A8 L Extended known as A2. The Palace did not say whether Princess Astrid, Princess Märtha Louise’s three children and husband Durek Verrett, or Queen Mette-Marit’s son Marius Borg Høiby would take part.

Along Karl Johans gate, flower stalls appeared for mourners walking toward the Palace Square. Gudson Berisha, who normally runs an online flower shop, said he came up with the idea after the king died. “I wanted to honor the king. I thought it was sad that people were walking up without flowers,” he told NTB. He said he was the first flower seller to arrive.

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I wanted to honor the king. I thought it was sad that people were walking up without flowers.