Buckingham Palace confirms William will stand in for his father at Wednesday's state funeral in Oslo Cathedral.
Prince William, the Prince of Wales, will attend the state funeral of Norway's King Harald V in Oslo on Wednesday, 9 September 2026, Buckingham Palace announced, acting as the official representative of King Charles III. King Harald died on 28 August 2026 in Oslo at age 89, prompting the immediate succession of his son, King Haakon VIII.
Palace Confirms Attendance and Protocol
According to the BBC, "the Prince of Wales will attend the funeral of King Harald V of Norway on Wednesday in Oslo, Buckingham Palace has announced." PA Media reported the palace's Saturday statement that William "is to represent his father at the funeral of King Harald V of Norway next week." Royal sources cited by the BBC said the arrangement "follows the convention that the monarch does not usually go to the funeral of another head of state," a practice historians say Queen Elizabeth II also observed by sending senior representatives to foreign royal funerals rather than attending herself.
Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, will also travel to Oslo, though in a private and personal capacity rather than as a formal state representative. She is godmother to King Haakon VIII, a personal connection PA Media and the BBC both cited as the reason for her attendance alongside her nephew.
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Condolences and the Funeral Ceremony
King Charles issued a statement on 28 August via the Royal Household, saying it was "with the most profound sadness" that he and Queen Camilla learned of the death of his "dear cousin," King Harald V. Charles said Harald had served Norway "with dedication" and guided the country through "periods of change with warmth and humility," extending "most heartfelt condolences" to Queen Sonja, King Haakon VIII and the Norwegian people.
The funeral will take place at Oslo Cathedral at 13:00 CEST, led by Presiding Bishop Olav Fykse Tveit of the Church of Norway, according to the royal palace's announcement reported by Ahram Online. Harald, who reigned for roughly 35 years and was Europe's oldest serving monarch, drew large crowds of mourners in Oslo, The Guardian reported. Sweden's full royal family, including King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, is also expected to attend, alongside representatives from the Netherlands, Denmark and Belgium.
