Prince William to attend King Harald's funeral in Norway

Britain’s Prince William will attend the funeral of Norway’s King Harald V in Oslo on Wednesday, Buckingham Palace announced. The prince will represent his father King Charles, as it is tradition that a monarch does not attend the funeral of another head of state.

In a personal capacity, Princess Anne will also be present, as she is the godmother of the new monarch, King Haakon VIII.

The late King Harald, who had been on the Norwegian throne for 35 years, died last month at the age of 89. Large crowds are expected in Oslo, with a procession and a service at Oslo Cathedral; the burial will take place in the royal mausoleum inside Akershus Fortress.

At the ceremony Prince William will meet Queen Sonja, King Haakon, the rest of the Norwegian royal family and other European royals. The event will also feature an televised tributes segment, including a speech from King Haakon and a message from King Charles praising Harald’s dedication and humility.

The royal funeral comes amid recent family controversies, including scrutiny over King Haakon’s stud guard and the conviction of a family member. Meanwhile, King Charles has returned to Scotland to host the UK prime minister and meet President Macron.