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King Charles described the late Norwegian monarch as his "dear cousin" in a message of condolence following the announcement of King Harald's death
Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the Prince of Wales will travel to Oslo Cathedral on Wednesday to attend the funeral of King Harald V of Norway, who passed away on August 28 at the age of 89.
Prince William will represent King Charles at the service, in line with the long-standing convention that the reigning sovereign does not attend the funerals of fellow heads of state.
The Princess Royal will accompany her nephew, though she travels in a personal capacity as godmother to the newly acceded King Haakon VIII.
Norway's widely admired monarch, celebrated for his warmth and relaxed manner, has been mourned as the "people's king" who brought the Norwegian crown into the modern era across a 35-year reign.
His widow, Queen Sonja, will be among the mourners at the service.
King Charles described the late Norwegian monarch as his "dear cousin" and "much-loved kinsman and friend" in a message of condolence following the announcement of Harald's death.
He praised Harald's "unwavering dedication" and his "kindness, compassion and deep sense of duty echoed from across the sea and across the decades".
The two royal houses share deep ancestral ties. The late Queen Elizabeth II and King Harald were second cousins, both descended from King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.
Wednesday's ceremony will mark the second occasion on which Prince William has stood in for his father at such an event, having previously attended the funeral of Pope Francis at the Vatican in April 2025.
The royal is expected to complete the journey within a single day, fitting it around public duties and his eldest son Prince George, 13, beginning at Eton.
The British and Norwegian royal families have long enjoyed close personal bonds, underscored by a 2018 official visit when the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were guests of King Harald and Queen Sonja at the Royal Palace in Oslo.
During a state banquet, the Norwegian king referred to William and Catherine as "family" and spoke warmly of their support for the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Harald himself escorted Catherine, at the time pregnant with Prince Louis, into the dinner on his arm, with Queen Sonja and Prince William following behind.
The couple also spent time on the ski slopes with the then-Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who now serve as Norway's new King and Queen.
