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Whether King Charles will attend the funeral of Norway's late King Harald is yet to be decided, it has been claimed.
King Harald V died on August 28, aged 89. At the time of his death, he was Europe's oldest monarch and had ruled for 35 years.
The Norwegian Palace confirmed last week he will be laid to rest at Oslo Cathedral on Wednesday, September 9, following memorial ceremonies across the country.
The funeral service is scheduled to commence at 1pm and will be presided over by Olav Fykse Tveit, president of the Church of Norway.
Heads of state and members of royal families from around the world are expected to attend.
But, despite a moving tribute to his "dear cousin", whether King Charles will actually travel for the emotional ceremony remains up in the air, according to Hello.
Journalist Emily Nash said: "There's probably some flexibility. But the honest answer is we don't know, there are obviously discussions going on behind the scenes. Last I heard, it hadn't been decided."
The King is scheduled to be in Scotland for the funeral, she added, meaning it could "fall on William potentially to go and pay his respects on behalf of the Royal family."
The Prince of Wales previously travelled to Norway back in 2018, along with his wife Catherine. When they touched down, they were greeted by then-Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit.
William and Catherine later shared lunch with King Harald and his wife, Queen Sonja.
Harald died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet at 6:35am on August 28.
He had been receiving treatment for haemolytic anaemia, a condition in which red blood cells are destroyed at an abnormally rapid rate.
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Since the announcement of his death, thousands of Norwegians have gathered outside the Royal Palace in Oslo, leaving flowers, flags and messages of condolence.
Flags across the country were lowered to half-mast, while portraits of Harald in ceremonial dress appeared in metro stations and public buildings.
For European royals, King Charles led the tributes, writing: "It is with the most profound sadness that my wife and I have learned of the death of my dear cousin, King Harald V of Norway.
"For thirty-five years, King Harald served his people with unwavering dedication, guiding Norway through times of great change with warmth and humility."
The new King Haakon VIII spoke overwhelmingly of his father on Saturday evening, his first address to the nation since Harald's death earlier in the week.
"A brother and uncle who was so loved by so many," he said of his late father. "You were the head of the family, and brought us all together with a natural authority, which you may not have been aware of yourself."
He was then sworn in earlier this week, though did so without his wife, Queen Mette-Marit, by his side, after she was transferred to hospital due to health "complications" following her lung transplant earlier this year.
He was instead accompanied by his 22-year-old daughter and heir, Princess Ingrid Alexandra - the first time the future monarch has taken the oath alongside the new sovereign.






