Norway’s King Harald passed away on August 28th. The Norwegian royal family gave everyone notice that the end was near, and people came out to honor Harald in his final days. Harald’s son is now King Haakon, and he took his oath last week alongside his daughter, the new crown princess. Haakon will not have a coronation, so the “big event” is Harald’s funeral. The funeral will draw heads of state and world leaders. People have wondered this whole time if King Charles would come and pay his respects to Harald, his second cousin. Turns out, not so much. But Charles did manage to convince his work-shy heir to show up.
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.
This is sort of significant because William isn’t big on attending funerals either. He skipped Jimmy Carter’s funeral, he skipped his own godfather’s memorial service in Windsor, and he came close to skipping Pope Francis’s funeral last year. With the pope’s funeral, William apparently tried to skip because Aston Villa was playing that week. I’m not joking. Many have already theorized that William agreed to go to Harald’s funeral simply because the Sussex family has returned to the UK. As in, William is suddenly very eager to look busy and important. Speaking of, why isn’t Kate going too?
Photos courtesy of Cover Images.
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In answer to the question of Kate not going, I believe that the 9th is the kids first day back to school and we all know that someone has do the school run. I wonder if there will be photos of George’s first day at Eton?
Yes it’s George start day at Eton tomorrow so both parents will be there for that.
After all, it has long since come to light that the children have been living in the boarding facility for years, and the whole “escorting” routine has been a fiction for a long time. In fact, it always was—because whenever they actually *did* need escorting, it was the security guards who did it, never the parents. Besides, students arrive at the boarding facility early, so they were already there before the school year began.
Kate isn’t going because William doesn’t want her there.
What boarding facility? You mean the Wales kids have been boarding at their current school?
I think they’ve said something that the older kids board “sometimes”, which probably does mean at least half time. I think Louis is too young to board? But I also don’t know how old he is 😂. They portray him as a baby, so I don’t remember at all.
Yes William admitted that George was boarding part time at Lambrook. Charlotte is most likely doing it too.
@MasiesMom … Evidently, kids can board at British public schools once they’re 8 years-old. The Wales have let it slip that George boards ‘sometimes,’ but I believe Charlotte has been boarding as well.
Unless they are indeed living separate lives, how else do we explain William’s statement during an interview in South Africa in November 2024 for Earth Shot about Charlotte crying when she first saw his beard. It took him forever to grow it out so how could she have missed the process? I think both George and Charlotte have been boarding at school for a couple of years.
Let’s be honest: it’d be very rude if anyone with a lesser rank would be going. That’s his job. But the relatively delay in announcing his appearance in the funeral (others have confirmed their presence almost from the announcement of the funeral) makes me think that there were definitely discussions and rage but, alas, he couldn’t avoid it and he reluctantly accepted.
I like to think Anne had a few choice words for him. She will not only honor Harald, but double as a babysitter for Bone Idle.
I was thinking the same thing! If anyone can get him off his behind to increase his work.numbers and lay off his brother, it would be Anne! Her no nonsense ways may get through to this lazy bum.
Yep, I’m with y’all. Anne is there as his babysitter as well as showing her respect.
I have a different take on that. Anne is going in good part because she is one of now King Haakon’s godparents. I think Anne was probably scheduled to go alone but Willy wanted to be at a high visibility event too, now that the Sussexes are back. And, if Kate goes Willy is not seen.
That makes sense, @Mayp. Anne’s to the new Norwegian king make her a good choice to attend, and more importantly she is unlikely to make a fuss or wear something that draws attention like a grieving mob wife. Low bar, sure, but something to consider.
Rather than Anne being chosen to babysit William, it may be the case that she was always going to go and W was added to the trip later, to give him something visible to do now that Harry is back in town.
I understood, from reading the newspapers that they had given up on doing extra work when the Sussexes were here because they had been sussed. Everyone is wise to it now. It just makes them look silly.
@ Sunnyside up, My two cents is that William put that info out there that he wasn’t going to do extra work because he does not WANT to do extra work long-term. It was ok when Harry was only flying in for a couple of days, but now that he’s actually living here William will not want to commit to extra work since it’s going to extend to more than a few days. So why not squash that expectation from the beginning.
I could be wrong about this. I did not google before hand, so please feel free to correct me
I believe Britain doesn’t send a reigning monarch to another monarch’s funeral. Traditionally. I’m not 100% sure — they sure asf expected all the other European monarch’s and RF’s at Liz’s funeral
And I *think* Princess Anne is King Haakon’s godmother
Although the Princess of Wales is not joining her husband, Prince William will not be the sole member of the House of Windsor in attendance. Princess Anne will attend in a private capacity: she is godmother to Norway’s new monarch, King Haakon VIII.
And you are right about the convention about reigning monarchs not attending another monarchs funeral.
Anne is indeed Haakon’s godmother, but Chuck had to have seen additional value in Anne monitoring Billy Idle to make sure he didn’t create yet another international incident provoking negative press coverage.
Make sure he packs a black suit this time, Anne. And for the love of Bob, keep him off the drink and the Peruvian marching powder.
You’re correct on both points, Hannah.
And I DO think the only reason that Pegs is going is because of the Sussexes. Oh, I’m sure he still tried to get out of it, just out of habit, but the thought of Harry being out that day, and getting front page pics? WAY too much for him to let happen (although we all know if Harry goes outside even just to check which way the wind is breezing that morning, a drone shot will cover every front page on Salty Isle).
It’s not just about rank. If rank was the only criteria, sure. Charles has cancer. It’s totally appropriate and necessary for dim willy to go. Nothing is simply rank. Willy should go because he’s next in line. When other Euro royals have been at important occasions willy never is. He really doesn’t care. it’s also appropriate that Anne goes as she has a relationship with the former king.
Cancer isn’t stopping Chuckie from encroaching the Caribbeans.
Charles has cancer…does he? He looks pretty sprightly to me and is going on a long trip soon. He also came to the U.S. So enough with that excuse.
@Hannah: I clocked that as well. I thought it odd that they point out that it’s tradition that the monarch doesn’t go to funerals but then they noted that other European royals–and presumably monarchs–would be at the funeral. Odd to point out how the British monarch doesn’t do the sort of thing that all the other European monarchs do. What makes them so special?!
That is correct. The uk Monarch rarely attends funerals of people other than immediate family and close friends. They send representatives. Queen Elizabeth made a few rare exceptions. She attended the funeral of the late king Baudouin of Belgium. She also attended the funerals of 2 former PMs Churchill and Thatcher. Churchills funeral was a state funeral. Thatchers was not.
I have also read that the monarch doesn’t go to the funerals of other monarchs.
These people are just paladin weird! The monarch doesn’t go to there monarchy’s funerals? Let me guess… protocol. The Brits actually think they can impose their rules onto other countries when, in fact, they just look self-absorbed and weird. I do hope Meghan and the kids keep their distance from these obnoxious narcissists.
By contrast, at least 12 reigning monarchs attended QEII’s funeral.
It sounds like the kind of egotistical nonsense that might have been passed down from Queen Victoria. She loved that “Grandmother of Europe” label and believed that it was beneath her to show any sort of deference to her children/grandchildren (I mean, her government allegedly offered her the “Empress of India” title at least partly because she was salty over her eldest daughter, as German Empress, outranking her). But you can kinda see the logic in that protocol back in those days, when the British Empire, and thus the monarchy, was genuinely a force to be reckoned with. Now, it just comes across as yet another case of them clinging to that past glory and insisting that they’re still above everybody else.
Thanks for the Vicky explanation.
@Miranda Except that Queen Victoria became the empress of India twelve years before her daughter became the German Empress. So I don’t think jealousy played into that one bit.
Plus travel took much longer in those days. Another European monarch could have popped over on the train, but by the time Vicky traveled to a port, crossed the Channel, and then traveled to wherever, the deceased would have been pretty … ripe.
Plus travel took much longer in those days. Another European monarch could have popped over on the train, but by the time Vicky traveled to a port, crossed the Channel or the North Sea, and then traveled to wherever, the deceased would have been pretty … ripe.
@Miranda so, it would appear that the Windsor Jealousy Gene goes as far back as Victoria. Does it go further into the Hanoverian line, I wonder? Or did it have its origins in Victoria’s maternal line?
The Duke of Cumberland, Ernest Augustus, Victoria’s uncle, has been portrayed sometimes as petulant and jealous, but I don’t know if that was true to history. If it proves true, this character flaw might be buried deep in the Hanoverian line.
@Nancy – Sorry, should’ve said “German Empress-to-be”. I believe the title had been considered since early on in Victoria’s reign, but began to be discussed more seriously after Vicky’s marriage. The final decision in the 1870s apparently had a lot to do with Victoria being alarmed at the monarchy’s waning popularity within Britain itself at the time (hmmm…), but several of her biographers have made the Vicky connection as well.
@Where’sMyTiara – Oh, Victoria was, to put it lightly, quite a piece of work when it came to jealousy. She was also said to be jealous that Albert doted on Vicky as a child; tried to dictate her adult daughters’ relationships with their husbands and in-laws; expected her youngest, Beatrice, to remain a spinster and act as her companion/secretary, and refused to speak to Beatrice for months after she asked permission to marry Henry of Battenberg (and only eventually agreed on the condition that the couple would live with her)… Really, if William is anything like Victoria, boarding school might be a relief for his kids!
Dollar bet William had his arm twisted to go to Harald’s funeral; and he should of attended Jimmy Carter’s funeral. Instead they sent Edward for that. Kate has no excuse not to go the funeral; Eton is the 8th, the funeral is the 9th.
Oh, but Kate (and maybe Carole) will have to “help George settle in”. All with a Royal photographer in tow to record this historic moment! Nothing would surprise me.
This is the real story. Kate should be attending as well. Eton doesn’t conflict with the funeral. All the other monarchies have the highest it second highest rank couple attend. Plus a third person. The UK is inky sending two because William doesn’t want Kate there with him.
On balance, although it looks bad that she’s staying out of it, it might be better optics than if she did go.
Between all the reports of Kate being unstable (though I admit these could also be projection and they’re really referring to William), and the fact that she frequently shows up to memorials wearing absolutely inappropriate colors (vivid yellow dress for an Indian war memorial, hot pink coat for 9/11 ground zero memorial), it’s probably less of a headache to keep her back.
She doesn’t compare well against her contemporaries, and the government is well aware of it, even if the press thinks the sun shines out of her Middlebum.
William is meant to go in terms of precedence given charles isn’t in the greatest health. I believed W would not go because, well, lazy. I suspect the sussexes put a rocket up him. After all, he didn’t go to the Spencer uncle in law funeral and Harry flew over for it, then the lie was put out. so this is just a game to him. I’m one of his soon to be subjects and he is a lazy loser. TBG Hes going back to the pre 1800?? of not seen royals who do what they want. I truly believe that’s what willy wants,
British monarchs don’t attend funerals of foreign dignitaries. Charles was never going to this funeral.
qe2 went to one I think,. It was just her preference not an actual rule. she made all these rules up given she was there for so long. Usually Phillip or charles went. But again, that so called custom which I guess you looked at ai for, is just her preference. Means nothing.
@cartie, so William really didn’t go to his uncle’s funeral?! The Rota will cover for him on just about anything then, sick.
Why do you think Charles didn’t go? He’s not known to be lazy.
Waity isn’t going because they need to send an adult to supervise Willy and Ann is the adult assigned to hold Willy’s hand for this field trip. I also believe Willy is only attending because the Sussex’s are now in the same country and may pop up anytime to steal that precious thunder the leftovers think they have.
The only ‘thunder’ the “working royals” have at this point, is trapped in the jugs the courtiers are forced to carry every morning during le Grand Levee.
I had to look that up. Good gad! OK, off to the library to read up on this dude. For some reason, I didn’t know the particulars.
I bet money almost every other monarch couple will be in attendance, and some will bring their heirs also. The European royal houses understand what paying respect means. Chatles having cancer is not an excuse. He does plenty of other events.
The Queen attended one monarch funeral in the last decades of her reign. (Belgium) Normally Charles would attend at Prince of wales. So William going for him is what is standard for them. The real issue is Kate skipping this for no real reason.
Some will bring their ex sovereign to, as Beatrix. Margarete is now in hospital again and can’t come. And the Swedish just come with the whole family. The British couldn’t sent Edward and Sophie.
Didn’t know that about Daisy. Hope she is ok. I would imagine the former Grand Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg will probably be there as well. The Europeans are much closer to each other personally than any of them are to the Brits.
If Harry is wasn’t back in the UK, Princess Anne would have been the King’s representative at the funeral.
I guess I don’t understand what’s involved with traveling to Norway from England, I thought they were an easy flight apart, like way to go for a day and be back in time for dinner. Especially if you’re flying private. I don’t see the huge burden in spending 6-8 hours doing this.
They are and yes, hop on a jet, funeral, fly home. Norway is an hour or two ahead of the UK so it may mean an early start but given the millions they suck up from the taxpayer it’s not a big ask.
Exactly. Plenty of time to go home and FaceTime George to see how it’s going, or whatever other hovering Kate and the Middletons have planned.
Can I say I hate the phrasing? Alongside William, the late king’s wife is also expected to attend. Like what? William is not the ‘star’ or whatever.
Ha! So true. They write the dumbest things, I swear!
When Charles was PoW, did either of his wives attend these kind of funerals as standard? Is this just the usual tabloid pot-stirring?
It looks like Diana attended Princess Grace’s funeral?
Charles went to Pope John Paul II’s funeral with the Blairs, and married Camilla the day after!
I think he normally went to funerals by himself? I can look later, but I really need to go do my workout 😄
Diana attended the funeral for Princess Grace on her own. She was just 21.
Wow! So young and already representing the British crown. Where was Charles?
All I could find after a quick google was that Charles & Diana did go to her grandmother’s funeral together.
Camilla did attend at least one funeral, I think, with Charles. She acted as though she was raised in a barn. They were in a front row and there were photos of Camilla sort of sliding down in her chair and sticking her two legs out, like she was at home watching TV. She couldn’t be bothered to properly sit in a chair. To me that showed total disrespect for the proceedings. I’m pretty sure it was a funeral.
Maybe this is the all new and improved heir who has been made aware of his life of service if he doesn’t want to be, ahem, replaced? Now Harry Is back in UK is Will going to be fully booked and busy and attendance at this funeral is the start of him taking his role seriously? I was very dubious about being told by a blogger who scrutinizes the court circular that Will had undertaken a mere 57 events until 15 June 26 but then, somehow, due to a mid Summer Surge then managed to do 70 events in the following month! I suspect he’d been padding his figures with 20 minute desk meetings again. However, maybe Will has truly seen the light and is going to prove a dutiful heir after all!
Well, Charles just put out a statement that the Sussexes remain private citizens, not working Royals, no special security. Which isn’t that surprising. They said as much themselves (not the part about security, but the rest). But I wonder what compelled him to come out with this now? Was it all him, or did Will and/or Camilla push him to say something?
@Maisiesmom statement says in answer to queries which makes me wonder whether charities want them onboard?
I think it’s a response to the news that Meghan will be re-engaging with Smart Works and other UK charities. Being patrons of charities is a recognized function of the working royals and some charities are specifically royal patronages. However most charities are not specifically reserved for royal patrons. I suspect the Palace is worried about the Sussexes charitable activities getting more publicity than the Wales’. The answer would be for the Dolittles to do more.
It is interesting that the announcement, incorrectly, refers to their HRH styles as titles and says they are in “abeyance.”.
First, their styles are not in abeyance. They are active. Also, this announcement is in direct contravention of the agreement with the Sussexes when they left.
The Royals were fine with the Sussexes using their HRHs as long as they were not doing it in a “professional” capacity. But they are now signalling to people and organizations that their styles should not be used, even in charitable pursuits. 🤡
It should be worth knowing that in 1991 Charles and Diana attended the funeral of the previous king of Norway, king Olav.
Their separation was announced in 1992.
I miss the days when the UK had a Princess of Wales who always dressed appropriately for every occasion.
No one has managed to get it right since 1997.
Oh ho! Another one. My initial google search was crap, I see.
Diana didn’t attended the 1991 funeral. Charles and Anne attended.
So this is the BBC? Also stenographers to the British royal family? I can see reporting on King Harald’s funeral, but writing an article about something that may happen? And let’s get real, Billy Boy could jump ship at the last minute. Is this what’s become of journalism?