Norway bids final farewell to King Harald V as royals gather in Oslo

Norway bade its final farewell on Wednesday to King Harald V, with crowds lining the streets for a funeral procession and ceremony dedicated to the long-serving king, who was remembered as a popular monarch with a down-to-earth touch. A 21-gun salute rang out over the capital at the start of a funeral procession from the Royal Palace to Oslo Cathedral. Harald's son knew King Haakon VIII, and other senior royals walked behind the casket, draped with a red Norwegian royal banner as it was transported along the city's main avenue. Norwegian officials, foreign royals and leaders from more than 20 countries joined them in solemn procession. As the casket arrived at the cathedral, the funeral service began with a nationwide minute of silence. At the end of the religious service, four F-35 jets flew over the cathedral in formation as the casket made its way to the Akershus Castle, where it would be placed in the royal crypt following a private ceremony with the family. Once the funeral was over, flags across the country, which were lowered to half-mast after Harald's death, were to once again be raised and church bells to ring for an hour. The square in front of the palace has been covered with flowers, drawings and candles for days, as Norwegians honour the man they dubbed the grandfather of the nation.