Prince William joins royals at King Harald's funeral in Oslo

What happened

Prince William and Princess Anne joined Norway's royal family and representatives of monarchies across Europe and beyond for King Harald V's funeral at Oslo Cathedral today. Thousands of people gathered along the streets of the Norwegian capital to mark the end of his 35-year reign.

The funeral procession travelled from the Royal Palace to the cathedral, with Harald's coffin covered by the Norwegian royal standard. A 21-gun salute sounded over Oslo as the procession began, bringing together the late king's family, overseas guests and parliamentary representatives.

King Haakon VIII walked behind his father's coffin alongside his children, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus. His sister, Princess Martha Louise, also accompanied the coffin. Her husband, Durek Verrett, attended the funeral service.

Harald's widow, Queen Sonja, travelled behind the coffin by car with Queen Mette-Marit, Haakon's wife. Their journey formed part of the procession through the capital before they joined the congregation inside the cathedral for the ceremony.

Denmark was represented by King Frederik and Queen Mary, while King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia attended from Sweden. The sovereigns of Norway's two Scandinavian neighbours joined the procession as the country said farewell to its late monarch.

King Felipe of Spain and Queen Letizia were among the overseas mourners who travelled to Oslo. Spain's Queen Sofia was also present, and William spoke with her and Denmark's Crown Prince Christian during the gathering for the funeral.

The Netherlands' King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima attended with Princess Catharina-Amalia. They walked in the procession behind Princess Charlene of Monaco, who was accompanied by her husband, Prince Albert, as the royal guests made their way to the cathedral.

Queen Rania of Jordan was also among those attending. Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko walked ahead of William and Anne in the procession, while Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece, joined the mourners in Oslo.

Political leaders attended alongside the royal delegations. Norway's prime minister, Jonas Gahr Store, was joined by German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The German and Ukrainian presidents both took part in the procession through the capital.

Representatives of Norway's parliament and legislatures in other countries also accompanied the coffin. Their participation brought a parliamentary presence to a ceremony attended by both hereditary heads of state and elected national leaders, as well as members of Harald's family.

For people outside the cathedral, communal viewing arrangements extended the funeral beyond the procession route. Churches, libraries, cultural centres and city halls provided large screens, giving members of the public places to watch the service together rather than gathering only in central Oslo.

The background

William attended in his capacity as Prince of Wales to represent his father, King Charles. The arrangement followed the royal precedent under which the British sovereign sends a representative to another head of state's funeral, placing William at the service on the King's behalf.

Anne's attendance had a different basis. The Princess Royal was there privately, reflecting her personal relationship with the Norwegian royal family: she is Haakon's godmother. The two British royals therefore attended the same ceremony with distinct official and family connections to those mourning.

The families' relationship extends across several generations. Queen Elizabeth II and Harald were second cousins, sharing King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra as great-grandparents. That ancestry connected the late Norwegian king directly with the family of Britain's previous sovereign.

William also has experience of Norway through his royal duties. He and Catherine, now the Princess of Wales, made an official visit to the country in 2018. His attendance in Oslo followed another overseas funeral assignment in April last year, when he represented Charles at Pope Francis's funeral at the Vatican.

Mette-Marit's appearance came after a period of ill health. She underwent a lung transplant in June and missed Haakon's swearing-in ceremony because of complications following the operation. She was present with her husband and mother-in-law for Harald's funeral.

Her son, Marius Borg Hoiby, also attended the cathedral service after receiving temporary release from house arrest. Hoiby is Haakon's stepson. His participation brought a separate legal controversy into public attention during the Norwegian royal family's mourning for Harald.

Hoiby has been convicted of two counts of rape. Last week, he was temporarily released to join relatives carrying Harald's coffin from the Royal Palace to the palace chapel, giving him a role in the family's farewell before today's procession and cathedral service.

What people are saying

Charles paid tribute to Harald after his death was announced, expressing affection for him both as a relative and as a friend. His message, issued by Buckingham Palace, placed their personal relationship alongside the Norwegian monarch's long commitment to public service.

The King praised Harald's dedication to Norway and the way he had guided the country through change. He highlighted the late monarch's warmth and humility, describing qualities that had shaped his approach to the role during his years on the throne.

Hoiby's involvement in carrying the coffin last week drew strong criticism from royal supporters. The objections centred on his temporary release and participation while under house arrest following his rape convictions, rather than on the arrangements for the wider international congregation.

At the cathedral today, the Bishop of Oslo, Sunniva Gylver, greeted Hoiby on the steps before the service. He then attended the funeral alongside relatives, following the earlier controversy over his appearance at the palace during the mourning period.

What happens next

The succession makes Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra the heir to Norway's throne. As Haakon's eldest child, she now occupies the next position in the line of succession, placing a new generation immediately behind the king following Harald's death.

For Hoiby, the criminal proceedings continue through an appeal against his convictions. He is serving a four-year prison sentence under house arrest at his parents' Skaugum Estate. His attendance at the funeral took place through temporary release from that arrangement, as his earlier participation at the palace had done.

Why this matters

For UK readers, the funeral illustrates the distinction between representing the sovereign and attending through a personal family connection. William undertook the first role for Charles, while Anne's relationship with her godson brought her to Oslo privately; both roles were visible within the same royal delegation.

The occasion also brought Britain's royal family into a wider gathering of European monarchies and international leaders. Alongside the change of generation in Norway's monarchy, the public viewing arrangements showed how participation in a national funeral can reach people beyond those able to attend the service or stand along its route.