Britain’s Prince William will represent King Charles at the funeral of Norway’s late King Harald V next week, Buckingham Palace announced Saturday, as the two royal families prepare for a state farewell in Oslo.
William to Stand In for the King
The Prince of Wales is set to attend the funeral on September 9 in place of his father, following royal protocol under which British monarchs do not typically attend funerals of other heads of state, according to the South China Morning Post. William previously represented King Charles at the funeral of Pope Francis last year.
Charles, 77, who is being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer but has continued a full schedule of engagements, released a statement last week mourning the loss of his “dear cousin” King Harald. The two men were second cousins once removed, both descended from Britain’s King Edward VII.
Service Set for Oslo Cathedral
The BBC reported that the funeral procession will be followed by a service at Oslo Cathedral, with large crowds expected to gather for the farewell. A private burial is set to follow at Norway’s royal mausoleum at Akershus Fortress, according to NewsCord’s compilation of the BBC’s reporting.
King Charles’s message praised his cousin’s decades of service and steady presence as Norway’s monarch, according to the BBC.
A Reign Spanning More Than Three Decades
King Harald V ascended to the Norwegian throne in 1991 and served as one of Europe’s longest reigning monarchs before his death last week. His funeral is expected to draw a wide array of European royalty and foreign dignitaries, following a pattern of major state funerals in recent years, including those of Pope Francis and Queen Elizabeth II.
Buckingham Palace has not indicated whether other members of the British royal family will accompany William to Oslo for the service.
The two royal houses have long maintained close ties, with the British and Norwegian monarchies sharing family connections dating back generations. William’s attendance continues a pattern seen in recent years of the Prince of Wales taking on a growing share of his father’s ceremonial duties as Charles manages his health while maintaining public engagements.
