Norwegians bid farewell to King Harald. Queues outside churches in Oslo and Asker
On Sunday, 30 August, memorial services for King Harald are being held across Norway following his death. Queues formed outside churches in Asker and Oslo even before the ceremonies began. Members of the royal family and representatives of state authorities are taking part in the services.
The date of Harald V's funeral is still unknown.
Fot. Terje Peersen/Den norske kirke
King Harald died on Friday, 28 August, at the age of 89. On Sunday, the Church of Norway (Den norske kirke) invited residents to take part in memorial services held throughout the country, during which the late monarch is being remembered. Church bells are set to ring at 11 a.m. The main ceremonies are being held in Asker and at Oslo Cathedral.
The royal family in Asker. A queue formed outside the church
The service at the church in Asker begins at 11 a.m. It is attended by King Haakon, Queen Sonja, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus. Residents also began gathering outside the church. Photos taken at around 10 a.m. show a queue of people waiting outside the entrance.<br /><br />Queen Mette-Marit is not taking part in the ceremony. Her absence is related to her health following the lung transplant she underwent in June. The service in Asker is one of the events being held across Norway that day. Similar ceremonies have been arranged in other parts of the country at the same time.
Under the provisions of the Norwegian Constitution, Haakon has already ascended the throne after Harald V.Photo: Jørgen Gomnæs/Det kongelige hoff
Service in Oslo. The queue formed two hours earlier
The national memorial service is being held at Oslo Cathedral. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, parliamentary speaker Masud Gharakhani and other public figures are attending the ceremony. The first people were waiting outside the church before 9 a.m. They began being admitted to the cathedral shortly after 9:30 a.m.<br /><br />At the entrance, every participant must undergo extensive security screening. A ban on flights over Oslo and Asker has also been introduced for the duration of the services. Olav Fykse Tveit of the Church of Norway said earlier that the ceremonies are intended to allow people to share their grief, pray and give thanks for the monarch's life. On Saturday, he also took part in a condolence audience at the Royal Palace attended by King Haakon and Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra.
The ceremony at Oslo Cathedral is led by Bishop Sunniva Gylver. The service from Oslo is broadcast on NRK TV on Sunday at 11 a.m. Another broadcast begins at 5 p.m. and will cover the memorial service from Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim.
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