Photo: Anette Ask / The Royal Court
King Harald's name was read out: King Haakon honours the fallen
King Haakon laid a wreath at the National Veterans' Monument at Akershus Fortress on the Armed Forces Day of Remembrance. During the memorial service, the names of those who died in service over the past year were read out. Among them was King Harald.
King Haakon attended the Armed Forces Day of Remembrance at Akershus Fortress in Oslo on Sunday. He laid a wreath at the National Veterans' Monument, and then took part in the memorial service in Akershus Castle Church.
The day of remembrance honours those who have lost their lives in service for Norway, both in peacetime and in international operations. The main ceremony is held at Akershus Fortress, while the rest of the country's garrisons marked the day on Friday.
The King was joined by, among others, Chief of Defence Eirik Kristoffersen, President of the Storting Masud Gharahkhani and Defence Minister Tore O. Sandvik.
"A soldier at heart"
Chief of Defence Eirik Kristoffersen addressed those present, and also remembered King Harald, who died on 28 August.
"King Harald was Norway's supreme commander in word and deed. The King was a soldier at heart and in mind, and lived out the Armed Forces' core values to the full. He showed respect and displayed courage. All for Norway was the King's life, and a responsibility he carried to the very end," the Chief of Defence said.
The names were read out
During the service in the castle church, the names of those who lost their lives in service over the past year were read out. Among them this year was King Harald.
Those remembered:
King Harald V, 89, died 28 August 2026
Senior Quartermaster Sivert Lehn Wannebo, 30, died 28 September 2026, Coastal Ranger Command
Major Morten André Bekkeli, 48, died 13 May 2026, staff officer at Northwood, England
Lieutenant Commander Nikolas Berge Holden, 30, died 16 May 2026, Coastal Ranger Command
Private Ivar Hansen Eliassen, 21, died 23 March 2026, CV90 driver in the Armoured Battalion
Skilled worker Tom Eino Sigurdsen, 53, died 20 May 2025, Norwegian Defence Estates Agency at Heistadmoen
Corporal Martin Fritzner-Fredriksen, 20, died 16 August 2025, section leader in Brigade Finnmark in Porsanger
Marked since 2007
The Armed Forces Day of Remembrance was introduced in 2007 by the then Chief of Defence, Sverre Diesen, and is held on the first Sunday in November. Since 2025 the day has covered the whole defence sector, not just the Armed Forces, because both military and civilian personnel contribute to the country's security.
The veterans' monument honours everyone who has served in international operations since 1945. It was unveiled by King Harald on 27 August 2021.