On August 31, 2026, King Haakon VIII and Queen Mette-Marit, together with Queen Sonja and Princess Märtha Louise, came out onto Palace Square to see the flowers left by mourners following the death of King Harald V and to greet the public. Each member of the family brought a single red rose and placed it among the thousands of flowers covering the square.
On the morning of August 31, 2026, King Harald’s children and grandchildren carried his coffin in procession from the Red Salon at the Palace to the Palace Chapel. King Haakon and Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra led the procession. Queen Mette-Marit and Queen Sonja also took part in the procession. The coffin will remain in the chapel until the day of the funeral on Wednesday, September 9.
The sight of the two Queens, hand in hand, moved me to tears.
ReplyDeleteMe too - so sincere and heartfelt. Very moving.
Delete@ Glitter girl
DeleteYes, so true.
All of them carried out each single step of the protocol with utmost dignity.
The whole ceremony and the Royal Family greeting the crowds gathered outside the Palace impressed me deeply.
So very, very sad and very dignified and beautiful…
ReplyDeleteThe family looks sad and dignified. That being said, I think it shows poor judgment to have Marius Borg Hoiby participate in carrying King Harald’s coffin. I know Mette Marit and the rest of the family must love him and he undoubtedly is mourning the death of his stepgrandfather. I’m not saying they should shun him from their private family life and mourning. However, given his convictions for rape and other offenses, I do not think he should be participating in this more public-facing, ceremonial capacity. My opinion, others may differ in theirs.
ReplyDelete-Royal Watcher
I agree. The lack of correctional steps has allowed this young man to walk around freely. Can you but imagine the fear and panic those brave young victims felt watching their tormentor front and centre sat such a solemn and public display. Sad!
DeleteMarius Borg Hoiby should have been in the chapel of sight!
DeleteI agree…his family may love him and has a right to do so but he also is a convicted criminal. Maybe keeping a low profile would have been better.
DeleteI agree with you completely. - Ellie
DeleteI do not agree with you about Marius. It is known that King Harald accepted Marius as his own grand child from the moment Queen Mette Marit was engaged to King Haakon. There have been other troubles in this family, but King Harald and Queen Sonja always supported and never let down their children and grandchildren and that is the way this family shows their love for each other. It is not up to us to judge their choice of who can and cannot participate at the funeral of their father, grand father and father in law. That is also why King Harald was loved so much by so many people.
DeleteRoyal Watcher, I think the only response in grief is to quietly respect the decision of the family. We would not want our decisions in grief to be judged by others either.
DeleteI agree however perhaps because this was within the palace it was acceptable. Having said that it is foremost a family before public event.
DeleteAgree
Delete@Royal Watcher. I agree with every word. Absolutely true. Great comment.
Delete@Royal Watcher, I disagree. King Harald was Marius' "bestefar" since he was 4 years old and they both loved each other. I know really well what Marius has done (or do we really know?), but in Norway all prisoners have the right to attend memorial services for their deceased relatives, then why not also Marius?
DeleteNarrow-mindedness at a moment of such grief is not only sad but also downright mean.
These critics are also usually foreigners who have no concept of tolerant and empathetic states.
I'm glad that also Marius is there and I believe King Harald himself wished for that. According to many Norwegian newspapers and experts, this has been evident. If you criticize Marius's presence, you are also critizising late King Harald.
Beautiful images and a touching event 💔💔💔
- Mirella
Marius is not "free".
DeleteHe is still under house arrest and surely got and authorization from the law courts to attend the ceremony.
I am a sheer nobody to judge.
Still, as @ Virginia Dogwood recalled,
they allowed Andrew Windsor-Mountbatten to publicly join his siblings in standing guard at his mother's coffin in 2022.
Royal watcher, totally agree with you.
DeleteP. the original, Andrew was not officially convicted of any crime at the time of his mother's death.
Mirella, Marius could have paid his respects privately without being present at the public event. As a foreigner I don't understand why the presence of a rapist (this fact proven in court) at the public event doesn't bother the Norwegian society. Marius showed no tolerance and empathy to his victims.
@ Mirella ,
DeleteI entirely agree with you.
I just gave up expressing my views or providing links, as it is crystal clear by now that most of the commenters on this blog do not have the slightest idea about the Norwegian way of life, the country, its institutions and the residents.
I know what you mean, I lived there for a number of years and got to know about the Norwegian customs.
As much as you can explain the way real life goes in Norway,
most people on this blog will stick to their "fictional" interpretations.
I think that trying to add first- hand information is a waste of time, sadly.
As for me, I just want to focus on the further steps of the ceremonial duties carried out by the Royal Family.
I don't care about groundless judgements.
Sincerely,
P. the original
Let's not even think to judge a family in grief, especially without the local context or cultural or legal understanding.
DeleteKeep your thoughts private at a time like this, please. Respect in grief should be foremost - not judgement.
DeleteMarius is a part of the family no matter what. The king loved him as a grandson. Of course he should participate with the family. This is not only a funeral of a king, but a loved member of the family. In Norway this is a no brainer. If this is how you treat family I'm glad I'm not a part of yours. Ps we all saw Andrew being a part of QE funeral. Can we please stop being so judgemental.
Delete@ Mirella
DeleteBack to say that- generally speaking- cultural sensitity cannot be forced on anyone.
Either one has it or doesn't have It.
The judiciary in Norway works differently from other countries' systems.
Norwegian prisons are humane rather than tough with emphasis on rehabilitation.
It doesn't matter whether I personally agree or disagree with these rules.
I am just aware that it is the way the judiciary is administered in Norway and I respect their different approach.
@P. the Original, thank you for your kind and wise words 🙏
Delete- Mirella
@ Anonymous 09:20
DeleteFebruary 2022:
Out-of-court settlement
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor agrees to settle a New York civil lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre.
While he did not admit to any of Giuffre's allegations, he acknowledged that she had suffered as a victim of sexual abuse.
......
(source ABC news and headlines-
Februaty 2026).
,......
Enough to cast a shadow over him imo .
I will just I add: I do understand and respect that different countries have different traditions and customs, and I also respect the love of family. However, I view rape as an extremely serious crime - perhaps the most serious short of murder - and to me, seeing a recently-convicted rapist who has not even finished serving his sentence participating in this public-facing capacity is quite shocking. Clearly, my view of this matter does not align with that of the Norwegian Royal family, and, based on some comments here, perhaps does not align with that of Norwegians in general.
Delete-Royal Watcher
Fortunately for this family they didn't ask for opinions of the general public. They embraced their ENTIRE family and included ALL of Harald's grandchidren because you know what? It's not OUR BUSINESS. And I would bet, Harald being a good, kind man, had kind words for Marius before he died. He was the man's grandfather like it or not. I think it's beautiful that ALL were included, did their parts and showed the love and dignity the King deserved.
DeleteMarius court case isn't finished. It's up on appeal. So your point falls on its own argument. What you are arguing about was a private time for the family that we were lucky enough to watch for the very first time. They could have refused us to watch. What ever you or I feel Marius is part of the family and isn't ironic that every Norwegian expert say this was the right thing to do. Just like it was naturally for Andrew to participate. It's called FAMILY.
DeleteMirella- 👍👋
DeletePerhaps it was the late kings wish to have him participate in this small role.
DeleteWhat a beautifull thing to do..placing their own flowers with the public display. This is not the time to criticise outfits,hair etc. They are grieving the loss of a loved one
ReplyDeleteMerit bends to wear a mask and wear gloves for her health!
ReplyDelete*needs to wear a mask, her immunity is compromised at this stage of her recovery
Deleteyou know better than her doctors?
DeleteNot out there in that good fresh air. She will be very very well advised, we don't need to add further advice.
DeleteIt has been explained in all the regular and most important news papers in Europe why Queen Mette Marit her doctors decided that she should not participate to Haakon's first speech as a king. Some of the reactions here are really stupid. Some people here do not realize what a lung transplant means and are giving advice as if she catched a severe cold. For the moment she is under doctors control 24 hours per day/night.
DeleteLet's try not to judge the Norwegian family during their time of sadness and grief. I don't recall the British family being criticized when they allowed Andrew Windsor-Mountbatten to publicly join his siblings in standing guard at his mother's coffin in 2022. I am touched that Queen Sonja's family shows their strength in togetherness. On a lighter note, I like the simplicity of the black head bands that all the royal ladies are wearing. Respectful without being overdone. Queen Sonja is a lady of style and grace even in her time of deepest grief.
ReplyDeleteAnon 00:36, I’m in total agreement, well said. Who are we to judge in their time of bereavement.
DeleteI agree and perhaps the late king wanted his presence
DeleteSo dignified, composed and such grace. The sadness, of it, the royal family show such inner strength.
ReplyDelete"Let's not do this, let's not do that (instead, let's do how I find it right)". Some people tell others not to judge others - and make thereby a judgement of others ... Why not tell your opinion and let others do the same. Nobody possesses the ultimate wisdom about appropriateness.
ReplyDeleteButthurt mutch?
Delete8:12 I generally agree with this sentiment. Yet in grief and when the family is going through multiple terrible stresses, I would agree with those who say: do not judge the decisions of the family, doing their very best while going through so many truly difficult things. Let them be.
DeleteI think we can say that when people are in grief and suffering, withholding judgement is a compassionate thing to do.
DeleteLovely family. All the best to the new King and Queen
ReplyDeleteVery moving photos of an evidently close family. I am glad they have made their own decisions, including bringing Marius in close too.
ReplyDeleteMarkus and the then Prince Andrew- one is a convicted criminal, the other is not ( no matter what one's personal opinion is).
ReplyDeleteIt is also respectful to respect the protocol of another country.
Markus?
DeleteWho is Markus ? Read the introductory text before and after looking at the photo's. Please do not always compair the British princes with the Norwegian. The situation is completely different. Have respect for King Harald's family, especially for Queen Sonja. They can read your reactions too in this blog.
DeleteA very sad day for the family and all of Norway. It is painful to watch Q Sonja she lost the husband she loved dearly. My prayers are with the family.
ReplyDeletecss
Some how I don’t find it painful, I just see the tremendous love she had for him.
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