In brief
Prince William will join Norwegian royals in Oslo to pay final respects to King Harald V, a modernising monarch who reigned for 35 years. In a personal attendance, he represents King Charles, while Princess Anne also arrives in support of Norway’s new King Haakon VIII. The funeral will feature a procession, a service at Oslo Cathedral, and a private burial at the Akershus Fortress. King Haakon’s emotional speech praised his father’s humility and commitment, while King Charles highlighted Harald’s warm leadership. The event draws thousands and underscores the strong ties between the two royal families.
Prince William, who has spent the past year balancing public duties with the birth of his first child, will be in Norway on Wednesday to pay his respects to the late King Harald V in Oslo. The prince will attend in a personal capacity as a representative of his father, King Charles, following the traditional convention that the monarch does not attend the funeral of another head of state.
Princess Anne will also journey to Norway, where she serves as godmother to the new monarch, King Haakon VIII, giving the family a strong emotional presence for the ceremony. Her attendance underscores the close ties between the British and Norwegian royal families.
King Harald, who passed away at the age of 89 last month, was celebrated as a popular, “people’s king.” He modernised the Norwegian monarchy by marrying a commoner and served as a unifying symbol during turbulent political times. His son, King Haakon, delivered an emotional televised speech at the funeral, thanking his father for his dedication and describing him as a figure that upheld law, justice and equal value for all.
The funeral procession will begin with a march through Oslo, followed by a service at the Oslo Cathedral. A private burial will then take place in the royal mausoleum at the Akershus Fortress. The event is expected to attract thousands of mourners lining up in the Royal Palace chapel to pay their respects with all of the attendants present, including members of the Norwegian royal family, the Queen’s consort Sonja, and other European royals.
While Prince William is in Oslo, King Charles remains in Scotland and has been meeting with French President Macron and visiting Balmoral to host the Prime Minister in his traditional annual visit.
