OSLO, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Norway bid farewell to late King Harald V on Wednesday at a funeral service in Oslo Cathedral, attended by members of the royal family, foreign royals and world leaders.
King Harald's coffin left the Royal Palace at noon and was carried on a gun carriage in a ceremonial procession through central Oslo to the cathedral, as thousands of people lined the streets to pay their respects.
King Haakon VIII, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra and other members of the Norwegian royal family took part in the procession, together with visiting royals, heads of state and government and representatives of Norway's parliament and government.
Among the foreign guests were King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, King Felipe VI of Spain and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. Several foreign heads of state, including Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, also attended.
The funeral service began at 1 p.m. local time (1100 GMT) with a nationwide minute of silence. Church bells across Norway struck three times at the beginning and end of the silence.
Norwegian Parliament President Masud Gharahkhani and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store delivered memorial addresses, while representatives of different faiths and life-stance communities took part in a candle-lighting ceremony.
Following the service at Oslo Cathedral, King Harald's coffin will be carried in procession to the Palace Chapel at Akershus Fortress, where a private ceremony will be held for the royal family and invited guests. The coffin will then be lowered into the royal crypt at the chapel.
Harald V died at an Oslo hospital on Aug. 28 at the age of 89. He ascended the throne in January 1991 and reigned for more than 35 years. He was succeeded by his 53-year-old son, King Haakon VIII. ■