Source : PERTHNOW NEWS
Prince William has attended the funeral for King Harald V of Norway.
The Prince of Wales was part of the walking procession behind the late Norwegian monarch’s coffin as it travelled from the Royal Palace to the funeral service at Oslo Cathedral on Wednesday (09.09.26).
William was accompanied by his aunt Princess Anne and several other royal family members from overseas – including the Kings and Queens of Spain, Sweden and Denmark – in making the journey on foot to the service.
The 44-year-old royal attended on behalf of his father King Charles, in keeping with the convention that the monarch does not usually go to the funeral of another head of state.
Meanwhile, The Princess Royal was at the funeral in a personal capacity as the godmother of Norway’s new monarch, King Haakon VIII.
The Norwegian King walked directly behind his father’s coffin and was joined by his daughter Crown Princess Ingrid Alexander and other members of the royal family.
Harald’s widow Queen Sonja wore a black veil and followed by car alongside the country’s new Queen Mette-Marit.
Thousands lined the streets of Norway’s capital to see the coffin, which was draped in the red Norwegian royal standard and adorned with white flowers, come past.
Harald – who had been the oldest serving monarch in Europe – passed away at the age of 89 on August 28, 11 days after he had been hospitalised in Oslo with a bacterial blood infection.
He ruled for 35 years after taking the throne in 1991 following the death of his father, King Olav, and was seen as a popular and reforming figure who worked to modernise the monarchy and broke with tradition by marrying a commoner.
Harald was the second cousin once removed of King Charles, with the British monarch paying tribute to his “dear cousin” after his passing was announced.
The King said: “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 35 years, King Harald served his people with unwavering dedication, guiding Norway through times of great change with warmth and humility.
“The Queen and I extended our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Queen Sonja and all her family, as Britain shares in Norway’s grief at this time of such heartbreaking loss.”
