Prince William to Represent King Charles at Funeral of Norway’s King Harald V

LONDON: The Prince of Wales, Prince William, will represent his father, King Charles III, at the funeral of Norway’s King Harald V next week, Buckingham Palace has announced.

Prince William will be accompanied by the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, who will attend in a private capacity as the godmother of Norway’s new monarch, King Haakon VIII.

King Harald V, who died on August 28 at the age of 89, was widely regarded as a popular and inclusive monarch who modernised Norway’s royal institution during his 35-year reign.

His death has prompted an outpouring of public mourning across Norway. King Haakon VIII formally assumed the throne following his father’s death and swore an oath of allegiance before the Norwegian parliament earlier this week.

The funeral is scheduled to take place in Oslo on September 9, with members of European royal families and other international dignitaries expected to attend. King Harald will subsequently be laid to rest at the royal mausoleum at Akershus Fortress.

Prince William’s attendance reflects the longstanding ties between the British and Norwegian royal families and follows established precedent for the British monarch’s representation at the funeral of a fellow European sovereign.