King Harald V of Norway, Europe’s oldest reigning monarch at the time of his death, has died following a period of hospitalization in Oslo — the Norwegian sovereign had been receiving treatment for hemolytic anemia, a blood disease that had caused fluid to accumulate in his body. He was 89, according to Town & Country Magazine.

Funeral Traditions and Ceremonial Details

Unlike the British royal family, which typically prepares detailed public funeral plans well in advance, often with code names and published protocols, the Norwegian Royal House has kept the arrangements for Harald’s funeral largely under wraps. Few confirmed details were publicly available before his death, and the Royal Palace has said little about what the ceremony will look like, according to Town & Country Magazine.

Norway’s monarchs are traditionally buried in the Royal Mausoleum at Akershus Fortress, and the Oslo Cathedral has served as the setting for royal funeral services for generations. The Norwegian royal family also belongs to the Church of Norway, an evangelical Lutheran denomination of Protestant Christianity, which has no rules for how soon a burial should take place. But according to the national burial laws, the funeral should be completed within 10 days after death, according to Town & Country Magazine.

Historical Precedents and Royal Rituals

The most recent precedent for a Norwegian state funeral is that of Harald’s father, King Olav V, who died in 1991 — his funeral was held at Oslo Cathedral, with the service officiated by a bishop in the Church of Norway. Following the service, a cortège made its way to the Palace Chapel at Akershus Fortress, a medieval castle overlooking Oslo, where the traditional sprinkling of earth was performed. In Norwegian tradition, this usually means the priest and/or family members drop sand onto the casket three times, according to Town & Country Magazine.

Family and Public Events Overshadowed by Health Concerns

Haakon and Mette-Marit’s silver jubilee, which was to mark 25 years of marriage, has been overshadowed by King Harald’s health, but the couple was set to celebrate their anniversary on August 25, 2024, at the same Oslo Cathedral where they were married in 2001. However, the Royal Palace has confirmed that the public celebration has been postponed due to Princess Mette-Marit’s recovery and the King’s deteriorating health, according to Todo Alicante.

King Harald, 89, remains in Oslo’s Rikshospitalet after his condition worsened over the past weekend, as On Sunday, the Royal House communicated that the monarch was receiving antibiotics for a bacterial blood infection and had responded to treatment. His condition is stable, yet he remains hospitalised and on leave until further notice, but On both Monday and Tuesday, the Palace has reiterated that no significant changes in his state have occurred, according to Todo Alicante.