Royal reporter Jasmine Carey, who was outside the Royal Palace in Oslo the day King Harald V died, has described the experience as devastating and says today's funeral is equally heartbreaking.
Arriving in a Grieving Nation
Carey landed in Oslo on a drizzly morning on August 28, already knowing the King had passed away. The grief of Norway was palpable from the moment she stepped off the plane, with signs about his death throughout the airport and a regal photograph of him on display.
Walking up to the Royal Palace was sombre, and the sea of flowers and the number of people paying their respects was overwhelming. Carey compared the atmosphere to Britain after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, saying it showed how much Norwegians loved their King.
A Nation's Grandfather
While reporting on the news that the King had died peacefully in hospital at 6.35am, Carey was accompanied by her Norwegian friend, who explained that the nation would be hurting for some time, as he was considered the grandfather of the people.
People of all ages were laying flowers, from toddlers with their parents to the elderly, and many teenagers and young people were crying. Carey said it was devastating to watch and imagines the same level of devastation is being felt in Norway today for the funeral.
Funeral Day Heartbreak
Although Carey is reporting from Britain this time, she says the day is just as heartbreaking as the day he died. Crowds are lining the streets, heartfelt messages are being posted online, and the devastation is mirrored on the faces of the King's loved ones, especially his wife Queen Sonja, who was married to him for 57 years.
The funeral service is beautifully done, but the family is heartbroken, with tears shed and grief etched on their faces. Carey believes King Harald will not fade from anyone's memories, just as Britons still talk fondly of Queen Elizabeth II. She offered the people of Norway a quote the late Queen famously recalled: "Grief is the price we pay for love".
