Prince William attends funeral services this Wednesday for Norway’s late King Harald V. The Prince of Wales travels to Oslo, representing his father, King Charles III. This solemn occasion marks a significant royal duty for the future monarch.
King Harald V passed away on August 28 at the age of 89. He was a second cousin once removed to King Charles III. The Norwegian sovereign’s funeral will take place at Oslo Cathedral. Mourners will gather to pay their respects.
Queen Sonja, King Harald’s widow, will be present. Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, will also attend. However, she does so in a private and personal capacity. She is godmother to the new King, Haakon VIII.
Royal precedent dictates the reigning sovereign does not attend the funerals of other heads of state. Therefore, this important responsibility falls to Prince William. He will formally represent his father at the service.
King Charles paid a heartfelt tribute upon hearing of Harald’s death. He described him as a “dear cousin” and a “much-loved kinsman and friend.” A statement from Buckingham Palace further praised the monarch’s service. It highlighted his “unwavering dedication” to the Norwegian people. He guided them through change with “warmth and humility.”
The British and Norwegian royal families share close historical ties. The late Queen Elizabeth II and King Harald were second cousins. They both shared King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra as their great-grandparents. This deep connection underscores the bond between the two monarchies.
Prince William and his wife, the then-Duchess of Cambridge, conducted an official tour of Norway in 2018. They dined with King Harald and Queen Sonja at the Royal Palace. During that visit, King Harald warmly called them “family.” He also commended their support for the late Queen Elizabeth II. He famously arrived at the banquet arm-in-arm with a pregnant Kate. She was expecting Prince Louis at the time.
Moreover, the royal couple spent time on the ski slopes. They joined then-Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit. These two are now Norway’s new King and Queen. This upcoming attendance marks another significant occasion where Prince William attends funeral events abroad to represent the British Crown. Last April, he represented his father at Pope Francis’s funeral in the Vatican.
