King Haakon VIII met Prince William for the first time as Norway's monarch at the funeral of his father, King Harald V, on Wednesday. Prince William attended the service at Oslo Cathedral on behalf of his father, King Charles, marking a significant moment as both royals transition to their father's former roles.
King Haakon, previously Crown Prince of Norway for over three decades, ascended to the throne following the death of his father, King Harald V, on August 28. King Harald V died at age 89 after a 35-year reign. Prince William, now representing his father, and King Haakon, the new monarch, have a shared history, having frequently appeared together at major European royal gatherings, state occasions, and commemorations during their time as heirs.
Their past interactions include the Prince and Princess of Wales's royal tour of Norway in February 2018, hosted by the then-Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit. The two royal couples met again in March 2023, when Prince William and Princess Catherine hosted the Norwegian royals at Windsor Castle.
Both King Haakon and Prince William have faced personal challenges concurrent with their royal duties, particularly concerning the health of their wives. In June, the Norwegian royal household announced that Queen Mette-Marit had undergone a lung transplant. King Haakon stated he would reorganize his official duties to support his wife. This situation draws parallels to Prince William's temporary step back from public duties in January 2024 to support Catherine during her cancer treatment, from which she entered remission in January 2025.
The funeral procession saw King Haakon walking behind his father's coffin, accompanied by his eldest child and heir, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, his son Prince Sverre Magnus, and his sister Princess Martha Louise. Among the attendees were King Felipe of Spain, Queen Rania of Jordan, and Princess Charlene of Monaco. Political leaders including Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky were also present.
King Charles's decision not to attend the funeral aligns with royal precedent, which generally dictates that the sovereign does not attend the funerals of other heads of state, making Prince William's attendance crucial. He was observed offering words of comfort to King Haakon and Crown Princess Alexandra at a reception following the service. Prince William had previously represented his father at the funeral of Pope Francis in April of the previous year.
King Charles expressed his condolences, calling the late King Harald V a "dear cousin" and "much-loved kinsman and friend." He acknowledged the late monarch's "unwavering dedication" and his guidance of Norway through changing times with "warmth and humility." The late King Harald V died from haemolytic anaemia, a rare blood condition.
Royal Family Connections and Personal Resonances
Both the Norwegian and British royal families share historical ties, with Queen Elizabeth II and King Harald V being second cousins through their shared great-grandparents, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. This kinship extends to other European royal families, including those of Spain and Sweden.
Interestingly, both King Haakon and Prince William have siblings who have taken steps away from royal life. King Haakon's older sister, Princess Martha Louise, stepped away from royal duties in 2022 to pursue commercial activities. Her departure from royal life occurred a year after "Megxit" and followed scrutiny over her business dealings and public statements.
Similarly, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan Markle, have also stepped back from their senior royal roles. In the same week as King Harald V's funeral, it was reported that King Charles had communicated to senior royal representatives that Prince Harry and Meghan would not resume official royal duties, despite their recent return to the UK.
Amidst these events, King Haakon's stepson, Marius Borg Hoiby, attended the funeral. Hoiby is currently under house arrest appealing a conviction for two counts of rape. He had previously drawn public backlash for helping carry his late grandfather's coffin while temporarily released from his detention.
