William to represent King Charles at King Harald funeral

Buckingham Palace has announced that Prince William will represent King Charles III at the funeral of King Harald V of Norway, scheduled for Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at Oslo Cathedral. The Prince of Wales will attend the service in an official capacity, while his aunt, Princess Anne, will be present in a private role as the godmother of the new Norwegian monarch, King Haakon VIII. The decision follows the death of King Harald on August 28, 2026, at the age of 89. The funeral will be attended by mourners including his widow, Queen Sonja. In keeping with established royal precedent, the British sovereign does not attend the funerals of other heads of state, a duty that therefore falls to the heir to the throne. This is not the first time Prince William has undertaken such a responsibility; he represented his father at the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican in April 2025. King Charles paid tribute to his "dear cousin" and "much-loved kinsman and friend" following the news of Harald's death. He praised the late king's "unwavering dedication" and his "kindness, compassion and deep sense of duty echoed from across the sea and across the decades.