 Normality of a ring of invariants

A fraction of invariant elements is fixed by every automorphism. If that fraction is integral over $R^G$, its monic equation also makes it integral over $R$. A normal domain therefore places it in $R$, and fixedness places it in $R^G$. This proves integral closedness of the invariant subring in its own fraction field. The proof works for any group and in every characteristic; no averaging or finiteness of the group is needed for normality.