Norway bids farewell to King Harald with tears: “He rejoiced and mourned with us”
Norway has bid farewell to its King Harald V and his coffin has been taken to the palace church at Akershus Fortress in Oslo. A private ceremony awaits there before the final resting place in the royal mausoleum.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre says in his memorial speech that Norway is deeply grateful for how the king took on his role.
– When we rejoiced, he rejoiced with us, with laughter and a twinkle in his eye. After July 22, when the grief hit, he mourned with us.
During Støre’s speech, both he and the Norwegian royal family were visibly moved, writes NRK. Queen Mette-Marit was seen wiping her tears.
The Swedish royal family was well represented in the church: King Carl Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Prince Daniel, Princess Madeleine, Chris O’Neill, Princess Christina and her husband Tord Magnuson. Crown Princess Victoria was tasked with reciting the Franciscan Prayer for her godfather.
Most of Oslo’s streets are empty of people, except along the route along which the coffin was transported. When a minute of silence began the funeral ceremony, the sea of people on the street was eerily quiet, says VG’s reporter on site.
Bonus Prince on site: “Important with a united family”
Norwegian bonus prince Marius Borg Høiby has taken his seat in Oslo Cathedral, several media outlets report. At the same time, Princess Märtha Louise’s husband Durek Verret joined in.
The bonus prince is otherwise at his parents’ home in Skaugum in ankle shackles while waiting for his case to be heard in the Court of Appeal. He has previously been sentenced to four years in prison for two rapes and assault.
– It would have been completely heartless if he had not been allowed to participate. It is important that the family be together – and Marius is part of that family, Dagbladet's court commentator Sigrid Hvidsten has said previously.
Norwegian disappointment in US presence: "Completely unknown person"
Norwegians express disappointment in the choice of American representation at the funeral of King Harald V, reports Dagbladet. Only the US Deputy Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, will attend the ceremony on Wednesday.
US expert Hilmar Mjelde is surprised by the announcement and says that Hooker is "a completely unknown person". According to him, one should at least expect a minister to be there. He is supported by diplomatic expert Iver B Neumann.
– It is a strange way to treat an ally, he says.
From the Swedish side, the royal family and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) are participating.
Støre: Zelensky's plane was almost hit by a drone
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's plane was almost hit by a drone on its way to King Harald's funeral in Oslo, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre told NRK.
The plane was about to be hit when it took off from Moldova. Zelensky landed in Oslo on Tuesday evening, and during the day has attended the funeral and held meetings with the Norwegian government.
– I asked how the night had been, and he said it was not a good night, because he had been on the phone and received news about where the missiles had hit, says Støre.
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar