In October 2024, Norwegian King Harald V made light of his future resting place during a speech, joking about a sarcophagus that would cost 20 million Norwegian crowns (about 1.7 million euros). The king mentioned the budget line for the tomb he would share with his wife, Queen Sonja, and humorously noted that the expense might be confused with the costs of Egyptian pyramids and tombs. He also joked that the sarcophagus should be well-padded for comfort. Designed by the renowned Norwegian architectural firm Snøhetta, the sarcophagus has remained a mystery in terms of its final appearance. King Harald V, who passed away at the age of 89 on August 28, will be placed in the sarcophagus on Wednesday. Following a religious ceremony at Oslo Cathedral starting at 13:00, his coffin will be carried in a procession to Akershus Fortress. There, a private ceremony will take place before the coffin is lowered into the royal crypt. The royal mausoleum, which was inaugurated in 1949 as an annex to the chapel of the castle, already contains two other sarcophagi. One is made of white marble and holds King Haakon VII and Queen Maud, while the other, crafted in dark green patinated bronze, houses King Olav V and Princess Märtha. Both were designed by architect Arnstein Arneberg, who also designed the mausoleum itself. The royal mausoleum, typically open to the public during visits to Akershus Castle, is currently closed. In Denmark, Queen Margrethe II, who abdicated in 2024, took an unusual approach by designing her own sarcophagus. Her resting place is a glass structure supported by three silver elephant heads, a unique and striking design choice.