Prince William Joins Royals at King Harald V's State Funeral in Oslo
Prince William led the British royal tribute as world leaders and royals attended King Harald V's funeral in Oslo.
By Isabel Navarro · First published 7 Sept 2026 · Chapter 1 of 2
In brief
- King Harald V of Norway received a state funeral at Oslo Cathedral, drawing thousands of mourners and international dignitaries.
- Prince William officially represented King Charles at the funeral, participating in the procession and ceremony.
- The Princess Royal attended in a personal capacity, separate from her official royal role.
- European royals, including the Dutch and Swedish royal families, and leaders such as President Zelensky joined the tributes.
- A nationwide minute of silence and a 21-gun salute marked the solemn farewell to King Harald V.
Timeline · 5 moments
Buckingham Palace announces Prince William will attend King Harald's funeral
Sky News ↗Princess Royal confirmed to join Prince William at the funeral
The Independent ↗Funeral arrangements and international attendance preparations underway in Oslo
South China Morning Post ↗King Harald V laid to rest in Oslo Cathedral
Deutschlandfunk - Fortlaufende Nachrichten vom 24. August 2026 ↗King Harald V's state funeral held in Oslo
Deutsche Welle ↗Update 9 Sept 2026, 2:39 pm UTC
King Harald V's funeral has now taken place in Oslo, attended by Prince William representing King Charles and numerous European royals. The Princess Royal joined in a private capacity, and thousands of mourners gathered for the state ceremony.
Update 9 Sept 2026, 11:29 am UTC
King Harald V's state funeral has taken place at Oslo Cathedral, with Prince William officially representing King Charles at the service. The Princess Royal attended in a personal capacity, and European royals, including the Swedish royal family, were present among the dignitaries.
Update 9 Sept 2026, 6:29 am UTC
King Harald V's funeral is taking place today at Oslo Cathedral, with Prince William representing King Charles as planned. The event is attended by royal families and dignitaries from around the world, with large crowds gathering in Oslo to pay their respects. Details about the scale of the gathering and the logistics of the ceremony have been reported.
How it started
King Harald of Norway, one of Europe's longest-reigning monarchs, passed away recently. His death has led to an official period of mourning in Norway. The British royal family and other European monarchies have a long history of close relations, often attending each other's major events. As news of King Harald's passing spread, attention quickly turned to how the United Kingdom would be represented at his funeral.
How it unfolded
On September 5, Buckingham Palace announced that Prince William, the Prince of Wales, would represent King Charles at King Harald's funeral, according to Sky News. The Princess Royal, who is godmother to the new Norwegian king, Haakon VIII, will also attend, as noted by The Independent.
King Charles's absence was confirmed at the same time, but no specific reason was given for why he would not travel to Norway. Some outlets, including Expressen, suggested that it is traditional for a monarch not to attend the funeral of another reigning king, though this has not been officially confirmed by Buckingham Palace.
Norway is in a period of significant grief, with public commemorations and condolences from around the world. The funeral is scheduled to take place in Oslo next week, and arrangements are underway for dignitaries and royal representatives to attend.
The announcement of British royal attendance reflects the deep ties between the two royal families, who are related by blood and have longstanding personal connections.
Where it stands
Prince William and the Princess Royal are set to travel to Norway for the funeral of King Harald. Preparations for the ceremony are ongoing, and European royals are expected to gather in Oslo. King Charles remains in the UK, with Prince William officially representing him at the event.
What to watch
The funeral will bring together leaders and royals from across Europe, and attention will focus on the interactions among them. Observers will also be watching for any statements or gestures that highlight the relationship between the UK and Norway's royal families.
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