Prince William to attend King Harald's funeral in Norway

The Prince of Wales will attend the funeral of King Harald V of Norway on Wednesday in Oslo, Buckingham Palace has announced.

Also going to the funeral, in a personal capacity, is Princess Anne, who is godmother to Norway's new monarch, King Haakon VIII.

The late King Harald, a popular, modernising figure who had been on the Norwegian throne for 35 years, died last month at the age of 89.

Royal sources say Prince William's attendance, representing his father King Charles, follows the convention that the monarch does not usually go to the funeral of another head of state.

Large crowds are expected for the farewell to King Harald on 9 September, with a funeral procession to be followed by a service at Oslo Cathedral.

Thousands have queued to pay their respects to the late king, during his lying in state in the chapel of the Royal Palace in the Norwegian capital.

At the funeral, alongside Prince William, will be the widowed Queen Sonja, members of the Norwegian royal family including new King Haakon VIII, and other European royals.

The service will be followed by a private burial in Norway's royal mausoleum in the Akershus Fortress.

Among the tributes to King Harald was an emotional televised speech by his son King Haakon, who said: "Thank you for being such a good dad."

Harald had been seen as a down to earth "people's king" who had helped to modernise the monarchy, broken with tradition by marrying a commoner and served as a unifying figure.

His son said he represented the values of a "society built on law and justice, where everyone is of equal value".

King Charles's message praised his cousin King Harald for serving his people with "unwavering dedication, guiding Norway through times of great change with warmth and humility".

King Haakon assumes his role at a difficult time, with the Norwegian royal family facing scandals this year.

His wife, Queen Mette-Marit, came under scrutiny when it was revealed she had maintained a three-year friendship with the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, for which she publicly apologised.

Her son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby, was convicted in June of rape and other offences and sentenced to four years in prison. He is appealing.

While Prince William will be in Norway, King Charles has returned to Scotland, after meeting President Macron of France at the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition in London this week.

The King will be hosting Andy Burnham at Balmoral this weekend, in the traditional annual visit of the prime minister to stay with the monarch.

Who is Norway's new King Haakon VIII?

Norway's King Harald dies aged 89: A beloved monarch buffeted by family crises

Norway mourns King Harald as Haakon VIII ascends throne

Norway's new king remembers 'my dear father' in first speech

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