RoyMob

The Norwegian Royal House

King Harald has been laid to rest, the royal family is returning to the Palace

King Harald has been laid to rest, the royal family is returning to the Palace

Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB

King Harald V has been laid to rest in the crypt of the Royal Mausoleum at Akershus. King Haakon stood at attention as his father's coffin was carried into the castle church. The King and Queen left the fortress shortly before 4pm, a double royal salute was fired, and flags were raised to full mast across the country.

King Harald V has been laid to rest. The coffin has been lowered into the crypt of the Royal Mausoleum at Akershus, and the public part of the funeral is over. The royal family is now on its way back to the Royal Palace.

Guardsmen in uniform lift the coffin, draped in the royal standard and topped with white roses, on arrival at Akershus The coffin was lifted from the gun carriage at Akershus. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB

• The King stood at attention

King Haakon led the procession from Oslo Cathedral to Akershus Fortress. He stood at attention as his father's coffin was carried into the castle church.

Guardsmen carry the King The coffin is carried into Akershus, with King Haakon behind. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB

A private memorial was held there for the family and the royal guests. It concluded with the coffin being lowered into the crypt of the Royal Mausoleum.

The coffin has been placed in King Harald's sarcophagus, to the left of the two sarcophagi already there. They hold his parents, King Olav V and Crown Princess Märtha, and his grandparents, King Haakon VII and Queen Maud.

• Royal salute and the flags raised

King Haakon and Queen Mette-Marit left the castle church at Akershus Fortress shortly before 4pm.

King Haakon in uniform and Queen Mette-Marit in black walk along a pink carpet at Akershus, with a guard of honour drawn up along the wall and the car A 2 at the end The King and Queen left Akershus Fortress shortly before 4pm. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB

At the same time a double royal salute was fired, before the flags were raised to full mast across the country. It was decided shortly after the King's death that flags at all state institutions would fly at half mast until the funeral had been completed.

The Norwegian flag flies at the top of the flagpole at the Royal Palace, with two uniformed figures on the balcony behind The flag raised to full mast at the Palace after the funeral was completed. Photo: Naina Helén Jåma / VG

• Back to the Palace

The royal family is now driving back to the Royal Palace, along the same route the procession followed earlier in the day.

At 4.45pm the royal family will appear on the Palace balcony. The King and Queen will then host a reception at the Palace, attended by representatives of official Norway, visiting heads of state, royals and the family.

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