Aug. 29, 2026

King Harald V’s Funeral: What Happens Next - and Where Will Norway’s King Be Buried?

Show Notes
Transcript

When and where will King Harald V’s funeral take place? Will the service be held at Oslo Cathedral, and will Norway’s late monarch be buried in the Royal Mausoleum at Akershus Fortress?

As Norway prepares to say goodbye to its king, we examine the traditions, ceremonies and royal precedents likely to shape the coming days.What is the Norwegian sprinkling-of-earth ritual? Who designed the secret $2 million joint sarcophagus for King Harald and Queen Sonja? Why has its appearance remained hidden—and could it finally be revealed at the funeral?King Charles III leads an outpouring of international tributes, remembering Harald as a beloved relative and friend.

We also hear from Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf, Denmark’s King Frederik and Queen Mary, the Dutch, Spanish and Belgian royal families, NATO, the European Union, Ukraine and Pope Leo. Plus, what happens constitutionally after a Norwegian monarch dies—and why did Haakon become King Haakon VIII at the exact moment of his father’s death?

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Palace Intrigue is a daily British royal family podcast covering King Charles, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton and the House of Windsor. New episodes every day. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network.

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Hello and welcome to Palace Intrigue. I am your host,

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Mark Francis. We'll continue to bring you these updates from

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our sister series, Crown and Controversy, Norway. Norway is now

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preparing for the funeral of King Harald V, and while

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we don't yet have all of the arrangements, Norwegian royal

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tradition gives us a fairly good idea of what the

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coming days may look like. King Harald died Friday at

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the age of 89 following a period of hospitalization in Oslo.

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Unlike the British monarchy where plans for the death and

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funeral of a sovereign are famously developed years in advance

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and eventually become the subject of extensive public reporting, Norway

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has kept much of its planning private. The royal palace

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has not previously released a detailed timetable for Harald's funeral,

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meaning some of the arrangements will only become clear as

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they are formally announced. There are, however, several traditions and

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precedents that offer guidance. Norwegian monarchs have traditionally been laid

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to rest in the Royal Mausoleum at Akerhus Fortress in Oslo,

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while Oslo Cathedral has been used for royal funeral services.

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The Norwegian royal family belongs to the Church of Norway,

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a Lutheran denomination, and Norwegian burial law generally calls for

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a funeral to take place within 10 days of death.

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The clearest model is the funeral for Harald's father, King

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Olav V, who died in January 1991. His funeral service

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was held at Oslo Cathedral and conducted by a bishop

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of the Church of Norway. Following the cathedral service, a

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funeral procession travelled to Akerhus Fortress, the medieval complex overlooking Oslo,

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that has played a central role in Norwegian royal and

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military history. At the fortress, the traditional sprinkling of earth

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took place, a Norwegian funeral tradition, This involves earth or

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sand being dropped onto the coffin three times. King Olav

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was then laid to rest in the royal mausoleum beside

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his wife, Crown Princess Martha, Harald's mother, who had died

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in 1954 before Olav became king. Harald's funeral is expected

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to draw heavily on that precedent. As a reigning monarch

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who served Norway for more than three decades, Harald can

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also be expected to receive the ceremonial honours appropriate to

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a head of state. with European royalty and international political

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leaders likely to travel to Oslo for the service. One

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particularly interesting detail has actually been in preparation for years,

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and it concerns Harald's final resting place. In 2024, it

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was confirmed that the celebrated Norwegian architecture and design firm

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Snohetta had been commissioned to create a joint sarcophagus for

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King Harald and Queen Sonja. The project reportedly cost approximately

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20 million Norwegian kroner, or roughly $ 2 million. Snohetta is

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internationally known and is responsible for some of Norway's most

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recognisable modern architecture, including the Oslo Opera House. The commission

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for the Royal Sarcophagus was awarded directly to the firm,

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rather than through a competitive process. What nobody outside the

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project knows is what the finished sarcophagus actually looks like,

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The design has been deliberately kept secret, its materials, appearance,

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and artistic concept have not been publicly revealed, and Norwegian

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reporting has indicated that the palace intended for the design

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to remain private until Harald's funeral. The approach is notably

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different from that taken in neighboring Denmark. The tomb prepared

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for Queen Margaretha was completed years before her death and

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displayed publicly. Norway has instead chosen to preserve the unveiling

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as part of the eventual funeral arrangements. While the country

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prepares to bury Harald, the constitutional transition has already happened.

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There is no period in which Norway is without a monarch.

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At the moment Harald died, Hagen became king. The Norwegian

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royal house has previously explained the principle this way. When

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a monarch passes away, the next monarch succeeds to the

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throne at the same moment. Thus the expression, the king

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is dead, long live the king. However, the transition is

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also accompanied by a number of ceremonial components that the

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most important of which is the king's oath of allegiance

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to the constitution. More in just a moment. King Charles

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led the British response to the passing of Norway's King

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Harald and described him as not simply a fellow monarch,

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but as family. Charles said, For 35 years, King Harald

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served his people with unwavering dedication, guiding Norway through times

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of great change with warmth and humility. As Norway mourns

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the loss of so towering a figure, my whole family

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join in remembering a much-loved kinsman and friend whose kindness,

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compassion and deep sense of duty echoed from across the

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sea and across the decades. The Queen and I extend

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our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Queen Sonja and

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all her family as Britain shares in Norway's grief at

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this time of such heartbreaking loss. The ties between the

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British and Norwegian royal families are unusually close, strengthened by

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both blood and history, Harald was related to Queen Elizabeth II,

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and Norway's royal family maintained particularly strong connections with Britain

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because of the Second World War, when the Norwegian king

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and government operated from exile in London. Flags were lowered

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to half-staff at Buckingham Palace, Clarence House, Windsor Castle, and

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the Palace of Holyrood House following the announcement. King Karl XVI,

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Gustaf of Sweden, remembered Harald as both a neighbouring monarch

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and a personal friend. He said, Throughout the years, King

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Harald has been a good friend to me, my family,

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and to Sweden. King Harald is now mourned by many

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in our country. I wish my dear godson Haken, who

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now succeeds his father as head of state, success and

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good fortune in the important role that lies ahead of him,

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in service to our brother, nation, and his people. In

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a longer tribute, Carl Gustav also reflected on Harald's extraordinary life, writing,

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King Harald's life story is exceptional. After the hardships of

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childhood with war and exile, He was able to return

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to a free Norway with his family and follow the

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country's fantastic development during the 20th century and then succeed

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his father as King of Norway. Both as head of

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state and a successful athlete, King Harald was an outstanding

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representative of his country. He gave everything for Norway. Denmark's

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King Frederick and Queen Mary remembered Harald in much more

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personal language. They said, Uncle Harald, with his warm personality

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and rock-solid calm, could make anyone relax in his company.

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He was a fine man with a twinkle in his

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eye and a big heart. For 35 years, King Harald

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was a solid rallying point for the Norwegian people. He

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combined duty and responsibility with presence and humanity. He was

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loved like few others and will be missed by many.

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Frederick also addressed Harkin directly saying, you now step into

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your role as king. It is one that we know

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you will bear with the same honor and dignity as

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your father. May faith, hope and love follow you and

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give you strength on your journey. The Dutch royal family

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also emphasized their personal relationship with Harald. King William Alexander,

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Queen Maxima and Princess Beatrix said, We were deeply saddened

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to hear of the passing of His Majesty King Harald

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V of Norway. We will always carry the memory of

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our special friendship with him in our hearts. King Harald

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served his country with love, pride and dedication. The times

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we spent together exploring Oslo and further north were truly unforgettable.

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King Harald will be remembered for his capacity for friendship

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and bringing people together thanks for everything. Spain's royal household

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called Harald an example of responsibility, dignity, humility and tireless

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dedication to the service of Norway and its people, both

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before and during his 35 years on the throne. Belgium's

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King Felipe and Queen Matilda said, As Europe's oldest reigning monarch,

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he was, above all, a king who remained close to

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his people. His humour, humanity and sincerity made him a

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truly special man, held in the highest esteem and dear

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to so many. Our family ties gave our relationship a

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dimension that went far beyond the scope of our official duties.

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We will cherish the memory of the moments we shared

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with him. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said,

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My condolences to the people of Norway following the passing

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of His Majesty King Harald V, For more than three decades,

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he served his country with warmth, humility, and an unwavering

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sense of duty. In moments of joy and sorrow, he

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brought Norwegians together. He was a true European and a

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lifelong servant of his people. German Chancellor Frederick Mertz said,

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The death of King Harald V has deeply saddened us all.

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Norway has lost a great figure who stood for prudence

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and unity. In these days of mourning, I wish the

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royal family and Norwegian people much strength. NATO Secretary General

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Mark Rutt highlighted Harald's military background, saying, during his 35

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years on the throne and beyond, he showed himself to

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be a dedicated leader. His own military roots made him

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a champion of the Norwegian military and a longtime friend

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of NATO. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his majesty embodied dignity, wisdom,

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and an unwavering commitment to his country. Ukraine will always

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remember his steadfast support and solidarity with the Ukrainian people

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during the darkest days of Russia's aggression. And Pope Leo

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offered his condolences to the new king and the Norwegian people, saying,

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Mindful of his many years of devoted service to the realm,

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which I hope will continue to bear fruit, I offer

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the assurance of my prayers for the eternal rest of

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the late king. Upon the Norwegian people and all who

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mourn his loss, I cordially invoke almighty God's blessing of

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consolation and peace. And there you have it. If you'd

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like to email us, our address is thepalaceintrigue at gmail.com.

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And if you'd like to get more on the whole

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royal Norwegian family, please check out our sister series, Crown

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and Controversy Norway. And just search for that wherever you

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get your podcasts. I'm Mark Francis. My thanks to John McDermott.

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This is Palace in Trees.

King Harald V’s Funeral: What Happens Next - and Where Will Norway’s King Be Buried?

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