Norway's King Harald laid to rest

Norway's King Harald V was being laid to rest on Wednesday, in a series of ‌ceremonies marking the culmination of 13 days of national mourning following his death at the age of 89.

Harald, a reformer who spent more than three decades on the throne after gradually emerging from the shadow of his popular and charismatic father, died at a time of multiple crises for the Norwegian royal family.

A procession on foot from the royal palace to Oslo Cathedral started at 1200 local time (1000 GMT), punctuated by the sound of cannons being fired from Oslo's Akershus fortress.

Tens of thousands of people lined the capital's Karl Johan Avenue, police said, with crowds falling completely silent as the coffin passed.

The procession was followed by a church ceremony starting at 1300 local ⁠time (1100 GMT). It began with a nationwide minute of silence.

Among the guests are Britain's Prince William and Princess Anne; Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko; Spain's King Felipe, Queen Letizia and Queen Sofia; Sweden's royal family; and Denmark's King Frederik and Queen Mary.

Heads of state from around the world were invited.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy also marched in the procession.

Representing the United States was Allison Hooker, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, the Norwegian government said.