Your Majesties,
Your Royal Highnesses,
Queen Sonja,
Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,

We are gathered here today to pay our final respects to King Harald V.

 

We are gathered in remembrance.

For some, these memories are deeply personal: of a husband, a father, a grandfather, a brother or an uncle.

For others, the memories are tied to their encounters with the King. In places throughout the country, great and small.

In joy and in sorrow.

It is often said that words are of little comfort in the face of grief.

Yet sometimes words can matter deeply.

Many of us will never forget the story of King Harald’s meeting with Christer Modin, who’d spent much of his childhood in care.

Christer had a difficult upbringing, and, as an adult, struggled with addiction.

King Harald met him with respect and warmth.

Christer himself said that this meeting changed his life: “I told the King I wanted to start a new and better life. And I couldn’t lie to the King!”

He set out on the journey to overcome his addiction.

King Harald saw human beings. 

Not just those in high-ranking positions, but the human beings who stood before him.

Especially those who needed it the most.

In his 2008 New Year’s address, he said: 

“I wish we would stop using the term ‘the weakest in society’. In reality, some of these people are among the strongest of us all.”

King Harald was close to the people. And he was himself.

He wasn’t afraid to meet people in his rubber boots.

On behalf of the Storting and of the Norwegian people, I would like to thank King Harald for the way in which he performed his duties.

He lived up to his motto: He gave his all for Norway.

Loss is always greatest for those who are closest.

Just as the Royal Family has always been there for us, our wish now is to be there for you.

My hope is that you will find comfort in the knowledge that this time it is we who see you.

Peace be on King Harald’s memory.