Global Royalty Gather in Oslo for Funeral of King Harald V

The state funeral for King Harald V of Norway is scheduled for September 9 in Oslo. The late monarch died in late August at the age of 89, and he is succeeded by his 53 year old son, King Haakon VIII. The event is expected to be one of the largest gatherings of royalty since the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, with attendees including monarchs and heirs from Denmark, Belgium, Sweden, the Netherlands, Monaco, Spain, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein. Prince Hereditary Akishino and his consort Kiko will represent Japan, while King Abdullah II of Jordan will also attend.

Prince William will represent King Charles III at the ceremony. According to reports from center right and center left sources, it is standard British protocol for the monarch to send a high ranking family member to the funerals of other heads of state rather than attending personally. Princess Anne will also attend in a private capacity to support her godson, King Haakon VIII. King Charles III, who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer, issued a personal condolence message describing King Harald as a beloved cousin and friend.

In Oslo, thousands of mourners have queued for hours at the Slottskapellet to file past the King's coffin, which is adorned with the royal crown and the sword of state. On Saturday, 6,960 people participated in the procession, with wait times reaching up to seven hours. The royal house has released the order of the funeral procession, noting that King Haakon, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Prince Sverre Magnus, and Princess Märtha Louise will walk behind the coffin.