The Norwegian Armed Forces and the passing of H.M. King Harald V
On this page, you will find information concerning the Armed Forces’ duties in connection with H.M. King Harald V’s passing.
The Norwegian Armed Forces have a central role in the period leading up to and including the funeral, including ceremonial gun salutes, guards of honour, support to the Royal Palace, security duties and related activities.
Below you will find answers to frequently asked questions about the role of the Norwegian Armed Forces. Further down the page, you will find information for the media and relevant links.
FAQs
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The Armed Forces will primarily be represented during the taking of the oath before the Norwegian Parliament (the Storting), the funeral, and as an honour guard beside H.M. King Harald V’s coffin in the Palace Chapel at the Royal Palace.
Taking of the oath
On Tuesday 1 September, H.M. King Haakon VIII will take his oath before the Storting. In connection with the ceremony, personnel from the Army (including His Majesty the King’s Guard), the Royal Norwegian Navy and the Royal Norwegian Air Force will take part. They will be positioned along Karl Johan Street from the Royal Palace to the Storting. The Armed Forces’ participation will be broadly similar to that seen during the formal opening of the Storting each autumn.
Honour guard
H.M. King Harald V’s coffin is now in the Palace Chapel at the Royal Palace. Cadets from the Armed Forces’ military academies will maintain an honour guard beside the coffin 24 hours a day until the funeral. The honour guard consists of four cadets, two on each side, together with a supervising officer. The chapel will subsequently be opened to the public, allowing people to file past the coffin and pay their respects to H.M. King Harald V. The time and further information will be announced by the Royal Palace.
The Norwegian Armed Forces Joint Medical Services (FSAN) will also operate a medical post in the Palace Square to provide medical assistance to members of the public if required.
The funeral
Personnel from across the Armed Forces will be represented on the day of the funeral. Details of exactly which units will take part and the number of personnel involved will be confirmed at a later date. A number of selected groups, associations and veterans will be positioned within Akershus Fortress.
The Armed Forces will also provide a gun carriage and a vehicle. The gun carriage will carry H.M. King Harald V’s coffin from the Royal Palace to Oslo Cathedral and, following the funeral service, onwards to Akershus Fortress.
Other arrangements
Available naval vessels will arrive in Oslo in the period leading up to the funeral and berth in the capital. International naval vessels may also be present.
Vessels on operational duty will continue their missions as normal. The Armed Forces’ state of readiness and day-to-day safeguarding of Norwegian sovereignty will be maintained.
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On the day of H.M. King Harald’s death, a 21-gun mourning salute was fired at 12 noon from the Armed Forces’ eight designated saluting locations across Norway:
- Akershus Fortress (Oslo)
- Bergenhus Fortress (Bergen)
- Fredriksten Fortress (Halden)
- Haakonsvern Naval Base (Bergen)
- Kristiansten Fortress (Trondheim)
- Oscarsborg Fortress (Drøbak)
- Setermoen Camp (Setermoen)
- Vardøhus Fortress (Vardø)
A mourning salute consists of 21 rounds, fired at 30-second intervals.
On the day of the funeral, a new 21-gun mourning salute will be fired at 12 noon.
Following the funeral, a double royal salute will be fired. This consists of 21 rounds fired at five-second intervals, followed by a one-minute pause, and then a further 21 rounds fired at five-second intervals.
Norwegian naval vessels do not fire salutes, as there is no tradition of ceremonial gun salutes being fired from Norwegian military vessels in Norwegian waters.
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In Norway, 21 is the maximum number of rounds fired in a salute.
The tradition of firing 21 rounds dates back to the Age of Sail, when ships had three rows of seven guns. Each gun was fired once, giving a total of 21 rounds.
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H.M. the King is our Commander-in-Chief and therefore holds an important position within the Norwegian Armed Forces. When a King dies, the Armed Forces enter a period of mourning which lasts until the funeral has taken place.
From the announcement of H.M. the King’s death and for the following 48 hours, Armed Forces exercises, training and courses are suspended. Essential operational duties are exempt from this. The Armed Forces’ readiness and the defence of the country are maintained as normal. The current 48-hour period will end on the morning of Sunday 30 August.
Events organised by the Armed Forces, or taking place at Armed Forces camps and fortresses, are cancelled for 48 hours. After that, each event will be assessed individually until the funeral has taken place.
Norwegian personnel abroad, as well as forces serving on international operations and missions, will, where possible, also suspend routine activities for 48 hours. Norwegian forces participating in exercises outside Norwegian territory will suspend all training activities for 48 hours.
All military establishments and vessels will fly their flags at half-mast until the funeral has taken place. All military personnel wearing ceremonial or service dress will wear a black mourning band during the period of mourning. Civilian employees may also wear a mourning band if they wish.
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No. The Armed Forces maintain normal operational readiness, day-to-day operations and the safeguarding of Norwegian sovereignty. Our duties in connection with H.M. the King’s death do not come at the expense of our core day-to-day responsibilities.
Personnel, equipment and vessels required for operational duties will continue their missions as normal.
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No. The Armed Forces will keep Akershus Fortress open as far as possible. However, access to certain parts of the fortress will be restricted as the day of the funeral approaches.
We will provide further information on timings and details as soon as these are confirmed.
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Following the funeral service at Oslo Cathedral, H.M. King Harald V’s coffin will be taken in procession from the cathedral to Akershus Fortress and the Royal Mausoleum at Akershus Castle. H.M. King Harald V will be laid to rest there in a specially designed sarcophagus.
All members of the Royal House are laid to rest in the Royal Mausoleum at Akershus Castle. This has been the tradition since Norway gained independence in 1905.
Read more about the Royal Mausoleum on the Royal House of Norway’s website (In Norwegian)
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We work in close cooperation and coordination with the Royal Palace, the police, the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) and other relevant organisations. This coordination is led by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and we have participated in regular meetings over an extended period.
We have also conducted a number of exercises and tests to ensure that we are prepared for the arrangements following H. M. King Harald V’s death.
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The Norwegian Chief of Defence delivered the official message to all Armed Forces personnel when the death of H.M. King Harald V was announced.
The Chief of Defence will also take part in a procession during the funeral.
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The Norwegian Defence Estates Agency supports the Armed Forces by preparing buildings and facilities. In addition, all agencies in the defence sector will be represented with their colours and ceremonial flags during the parade.
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The Armed Forces are an organisation steeped in tradition and with a long history, and uniforms, ranks and medals are fundamental elements of the Armed Forces.
Much of the Armed Forces’ equipment prominently displays His Majesty the King’s monogram. The Armed Forces have already held initial discussions regarding a new monogram for H.M. King Haakon VIII. We will continue this work as soon as possible.
Naturally, it will take time to introduce the new monogram across all units of the Armed Forces. There will therefore be a transitional period before all equipment bears the new monogram.
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The Armed Forces have cancelled a number of events that are not directly related to the Armed Forces’ operational readiness and duties.
Following this, each event will be assessed individually in accordance with the guidance and information issued by the Norwegian Government.
Read more in the Norwegian Government’s guidance on the period of national mourning
Information for the press
Images and video can be downloaded from the Norwegian Armed Forces’ media bank:
For media enquiries, requests to cover specific events or parts of the proceedings, and similar matters:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has established a press centre at Professorboligen, University of Oslo, Karl Johan Street 47. The centre provides workspaces and internet access for visiting Norwegian and international media. It will be open daily from 09:00 to 17:00. Members of the press wishing to access the press centre, must present a valid press card.
The Norwegian Armed Forces are represented at the MFA’s press centre and have a 24/7 media duty officer available. Please contact us to coordinate any requirements:
- Media duty officer: +47 91 66 99 55 (no text messages)
- E-mail: milinfo@mil.no
