UK Armed Forces pay tribute to late King of Norway at his funeral in Oslo
The UK Armed Forces honoured King Harald V of Norway at his Oslo funeral, reflecting his lifelong ties to British military institutions.
The United Kingdom Armed Forces paid formal tribute to King Harald V of Norway during his state funeral in Oslo on Wednesday. A marching detachment from the Royal Marines lined the funeral procession route, while personnel from 1st Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment, attended as part of the UK’s official delegation. The late monarch, who passed away on 28 August, had maintained close institutional links with the British Armed Forces for 45 years, holding honorary ranks in both the Royal Marines and the British Army.
King Harald served as Honorary Colonel of the Royal Marines and Honorary General in the British Army, meeting annually with UK Commando Forces leadership to discuss operational matters. His father, King Olav V, had previously been appointed an Honorary Admiral in the Royal Navy in 1958, reinforcing the long-standing military ties between the two royal houses and the British Armed Forces.
The late King’s connection to the Royal Marines began in March 1981 when Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II appointed him Honorary Colonel, the first such appointment for a foreign royal. He visited the Corps for the first time that October, touring training facilities in Devon and observing exercises by 40 and 42 Commando units, marking the start of decades of engagement.
His involvement continued throughout his reign, including a 2018 visit to Royal Marines from X Company, 45 Commando, at Vaernes Camp in Norway during Exercise Trident Juncture, NATO’s largest collective defence exercise in a decade. During the visit, he was briefed on the Corps’ role and joined celebrations marking the Royal Marines’ 354th anniversary.