Prince William to represent King Charles at Norway's King Harald funeral
Prince William will stand in for King Charles III at the state funeral of Norway's late King Harald V in Oslo, joined by Princess Anne.
Buckingham Palace has confirmed that Prince William will represent his father at the state funeral of Norway’s late King Harald V. The solemn ceremony is scheduled to take place at Oslo Cathedral, where the Prince of Wales will pay his respects on behalf of the British sovereign. He will be joined by his aunt, the Princess Royal, who is attending in a personal and private capacity in her role as godmother to the new monarch, King Haakon VIII.
The decision follows established royal precedent. British monarchs do not typically attend the funerals of foreign heads of state, leaving the responsibility to a close family member or the heir to the throne. Prince William previously stepped in for his father to represent the UK at the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican. King Charles remains unlikely to travel to Norway, having released a public statement mourning the loss of his cousin and paying tribute to his decades of service.
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King Harald V passed away at a hospital in Oslo after receiving treatment for a rare blood condition. He was eighty-nine years old and had reigned for thirty-five years. Norway has experienced an overwhelming wave of mourning following his death. Crowds gathered outside the Royal Palace to leave floral tributes, and the late monarch lay in state within the palace chapel. King Harald was widely celebrated as an inclusive people's king, recognised for his warmth, humour, informal style, and his efforts to modernise the Norwegian monarchy and open parts of the Royal Palace to the public.
Tributes poured in from across Europe and beyond. King Charles shared a heartfelt message describing the late Norwegian ruler as a dear cousin, much-loved kinsman, and friend. The British monarch praised Harald's unwavering dedication, kindness, compassion, and deep sense of duty. The late Queen Elizabeth II and King Harald were second cousins who shared great-grandparents in King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. King Charles and King Harald were second cousins once removed, both descending from Britain's King Edward VII.
The funeral service at Oslo Cathedral will draw numerous mourners, including the widowed Queen Sonja, now holding the title of queen mother, alongside members of the Norwegian royal family such as the new King Haakon VIII and Queen Mette-Marit. Representatives from royal households across Europe and the wider world are also expected to gather in the Norwegian capital to honour the late monarch.
The upcoming memorial highlights longstanding ties between the British and Norwegian royal houses. Prince William and the Princess of Wales previously undertook an official tour of Norway, during which they attended a formal dinner at the Royal Palace with King Harald and Queen Sonja. During the visit, King Harald warmly referred to the British royals as family and commended their support of the late Queen Elizabeth II. The visit famously featured the Norwegian sovereign walking arm in arm into the banquet hall with a pregnant Kate, who was expecting Prince Louis and wearing an Alexander McQueen gown, while Queen Sonja and Prince William followed directly behind them. The two royal couples also spent time together on the ski slopes alongside then-Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit.
Following the service at Oslo Cathedral, the late King Harald V will be laid to rest during a private burial within the royal mausoleum at Akershus Fortress.
