The Prime Minister's speech at the funeral of King Harald V

Translated from Norwegian

Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Queen Sonja, Honoured Guests,

In his last New Year’s speech, King Harald spoke about a visit to Aremark – of how, on the way home, he and Queen Sonja had looked at each other and exchanged a smile – and of the sense of gratitude that so often stayed with them after their visits across Norway.

Towards the end of his New Year’s speech, The King suggested that we take the time every day to ask ourselves: What do I feel grateful for?

Over these past days, Norway has given its answer – with the flowers, the drawings from children, the candles we have lit and the memories we have shared.

We are filled with a deep sense of gratitude:

For 35 years with King Harald as Norway’s King.

And above all, for the way he was our King.

He struck a balance between being stately and being down-to-earth.

When we rejoiced, he rejoiced together with us – with his resounding laugh and a twinkle in his eye.

When sorrow came to us – such as after the attacks of 22 July – he grieved together with us.

 

As the choir just sang in the psalm here in the Cathedral: ‘Our thanks to God for footprints along the shore, for the beating of the waves.’

King Harald cared deeply about the sea – about nature, about freedom, about friendship.

All along the coast – on board the Royal Yacht – over the mountains and through the valleys, to Norwegian cities and villages, King Harald and Queen Sonja traversed our country.

He came as The King – and left full of new insights from all the people he had met.

The Norway he encountered on his journeys was echoed in his speeches:

He made Norway greater. He spoke of a ‘we’ in Norway where everyone is there for each other, where each of us takes responsibility for the community as a whole, and where all of us have equal worth – from King Solomon to George the Hatmaker.

 

He bore his own responsibility with profound respect for the Constitution.

Friday after Friday, King Harald presided over the Council of State at the Royal Palace, with a sense of duty that prevailed up to the final meeting he led – on 7 August.

Both for me as Prime Minister and for my predecessors, King Harald was a unique discussion partner.

In that otherwise so formal context we met The King, but we also met a fellow human being, a father and a grandfather. We could talk about politics – and about the meaning of life.

 

Today our thoughts go to those who were closest to King Harald – the members of the Royal Family.

We have seen the closeness that exists between the generations.

We see the love between our new King and Queen.

You have shared a father, a father-in-law, a grandfather, and a person you loved with an entire people.

Queen Sonja working by his side played an inextricable part in King Harald’s service to the nation – her tireless efforts to promote culture, to celebrate nature – and her desire to experience far-flung places it is hard to imagine anyone could live.

One particular image comes to mind:

Dronningvarden, the Queen’s cairn marker, stands on the summit of Stortinden Peak in Vågan municipality far to the north. There we find a plaque engraved with Queen Sonja’s own words:

For et land! (‘What a country!’) 

To this I say: What a Queen!

 

King Harald gave his all for Norway.

We are gathered here to mourn him and to honour him.

An era has ended.

A new era is beginning.

The Norwegian monarchy stands on the foundation of our history, firmly anchored in our Constitution and government by the people.

To King Harald V, I say, on behalf of the people of Norway:

Thank you for your life of service.

And to King Haakon VIII:

Long live The King!