India, Sept. 10 -- Norway was bidding its final farewell to King Harald V on Wednesday as the popular monarch's coffin set off for a funeral attended by royalty and leaders from across Europe and beyond, with thousands of people lining the streets.

A 21-gun salute rang out over Oslo at the start of the procession from the royal palace to Oslo Cathedral. Harald's son, new King Haakon VIII, and other senior royals walked behind the coffin, draped with the red Norwegian royal standard. Harald, who died on August 28 at age 89, was Europe's oldest monarch and had reigned for 35 years.

He had modernised the royal house, but refused to follow in the footsteps of other ageing monarchs who have abdicated in recent times. His son immediately beca...