Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the Prince of Wales will travel to Oslo this Wednesday to attend the funeral of King Harald V of Norway. Prince William will be present in his capacity as a representative for King Charles, adhering to the standard royal protocol where the British monarch typically does not attend the funerals of other heads of state.
Princess Anne is also scheduled to attend the ceremony in a personal capacity. She maintains a close connection to the Norwegian royal family as the godmother to the new monarch, King Haakon VIII.
King Harald V, who reigned for 35 years, was widely regarded as a modernizing influence who broke with tradition by marrying a commoner. Following his death at age 89, thousands of mourners have visited the Royal Palace in Oslo to pay their respects during his lying in state. The funeral proceedings on September 9 will include a procession and a service at Oslo Cathedral, concluding with a private burial at the Akershus Fortress.
King Charles expressed his condolences, describing his cousin as a leader who served with "unwavering dedication" and "warmth and humility." The new monarch, King Haakon VIII, recently honored his father in a televised address, thanking him for his guidance and describing him as a unifying figure who championed equality and justice.
The transition of power comes as the Norwegian royal family navigates a period of internal challenges, including public scrutiny regarding Queen Mette-Marit’s past association with Jeffrey Epstein and the recent conviction of her son, Marius Borg Høiby, on rape and other charges.
Source: BBC News
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.