Preparations are underway in Oslo for the state funeral of Norway's King Harald V, who died on August 28 at the age of 89. The ceremony, scheduled for September 9 at Oslo Cathedral, will be attended by kings, queens, princes, heads of state, and dignitaries from across the globe.
Prince William will lead the extraordinary gathering of royals, representing his father, King Charles III. This duty falls to William in accordance with the precedent that the sovereign does not typically attend the funerals of other heads of state. He will be joined by Anne, Princess Royal, who will attend in a personal capacity as the godmother of Norway's new king.
More than 150 flights carrying royal guests and other VIPs are expected to land at Gardermoen airport ahead of the funeral. Among the arrivals noted were the Crown Prince and Princess of Serbia, Japan, and Bulgaria. Other European royals expected to attend include King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark with their children, Crown Prince Christian and Princess Benedikte; Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria, and Prince Daniel; Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde; and King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain with Queen Sofia.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands will be accompanied by Princess Beatrix, while Monaco's Prince Albert, King Abdullah of Jordan, Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko of Japan, Greece's Queen Anne-Marie, and Prince Kyril of Bulgaria are also confirmed attendees.
King Harald V, a cousin of King Charles III, died following a hospital admission where he was treated for hemolytic anemia. He reigned for 35 years. His death followed a challenging period for the Norwegian royal family, which included recent health issues for Queen Mette-Marit and a rape conviction involving her stepson.
Controversially, Marius Borg Hoiby, the 29-year-old stepson of the new King Haakon VIII, has been permitted to attend the funeral. Hoiby, who was convicted of rape and sentenced to four years in prison, had previously been under house arrest but was allowed to help carry King Harald's bier from the Royal Palace to the Palace Chapel for his lying in state on August 31. It remains unclear if he will participate in the main royal procession.
Queen Mette-Marit will travel with King Harald's widow, Queen Sonja. The new queen has been under medical observation due to complications from her lung transplant surgery in June and was unable to attend her father-in-law's swearing-in ceremony as monarch. Her absence was confirmed by a pulmonologist from Norway's National Hospital, who stated that complications following lung transplants are not uncommon.
After the service at Oslo Cathedral, King Harald's coffin will be taken to Akershus Fortress for a private family service. He will be buried alongside his parents, King Olav and Crown Princess Martha. Following tradition, flags will be raised to their highest point, and the country's church bells will ring for an hour before the royal family returns to the palace for a balcony appearance. The day will conclude with an official reception at the Palace.
In his first official address as monarch, King Haakon VIII paid tribute to his father, remembering him as "such a good father" and a "loving and thoughtful husband." Mourners have gathered in Oslo, leaving flowers and condolence cards outside the Royal Palace, with national flags flying at half-mast throughout the country.