Prince William to represent King Charles at funeral of King Harald V

The Prince of Wales, Prince William, will travel to Norway next week to represent his father, King Charles, at the funeral of King Harald V, Buckingham Palace has announced.

William will attend the service at Oslo Cathedral on Wednesday alongside his aunt, Princess Anne, who will be there in a private capacity as the godmother of Norway’s new king, Haakon VIII.

King Harald died on August 28 aged 89, bringing an end to a 35-year reign in which he became known for his informal approach and close connection with the Norwegian public. Queen Sonja, his widow, is expected to attend the funeral.

The King’s decision not to attend follows longstanding royal protocol in which reigning monarchs generally do not attend the funerals of fellow heads of state. William has previously taken on similar duties on his father’s behalf, including representing Charles at the funeral of Pope Francis at the Vatican last April.

Charles paid tribute to Harald after his death, remembering his “unwavering dedication” and describing his “kindness, compassion and deep sense of duty”. The British and Norwegian royal families also share a long-standing family connection. Queen Elizabeth II and Harald were second cousins, with both descended from King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.

William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, met Harald and Queen Sonja during their official visit to Norway in 2018. The couple were hosted at the Royal Palace for a banquet, where Harald described them as “family” and praised their support for Queen Elizabeth II.