Princess Anne attended the state funeral of King Harald V of Norway this week, offering personal support to her godson, the new King Haakon VIII. While the Prince of Wales officially represented the British Royal Family, Anne was present in a personal capacity as one of King Haakon's six godparents.
King Harald V was laid to rest at Akershus Fortress in Oslo on September 9. The funeral service marked a significant moment for the Norwegian Royal Family, with Haakon VIII ascending to the throne following his father's death. Princess Anne's presence underscored her long-standing bond with the Norwegian monarch, whom she has known since his birth on July 20, 1973. She was named as one of his godparents along with other European royals, including Sweden's Carl XVI Gustaf and Denmark's Queen Margrethe.
Princess Anne has a total of seven godchildren, a tradition that has seen a decline in recent times among members of the Royal Family. Her relationship with King Haakon is noted as her most public. She previously visited Oslo in 2024 for a joint engagement with the then Crown Prince Haakon at the Norwegian Resistance Museum.
Among her other godchildren are Prince Peter of Serbia, the eldest son of Crown Prince Alexander and Princess Maria da Gloria of Orleans-Braganza. Prince Peter renounced his claim to the Serbian throne in 2022. Another godchild is Kelly Knatchbull, the great-granddaughter of Lord Mountbatten, who works as a talent agent.
Princess Anne also serves as godmother to Lady Eloise Anson, daughter of the 8th Earl of Lichfield. Her father was an acclaimed photographer who documented the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana. Additionally, Philipp, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, the great-nephew of Prince Philip, is one of her godchildren. Philipp's mother is Princess Margarita, the eldest sister of the late Duke of Edinburgh.
Other godchildren include Lucy Margot Therese, the youngest child of Donald Cameron of Lochiel, a friend of the King, and Alice McVittie, daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm McVittie.
This personal role comes as Princess Anne also recently received an honorary degree from the University of Lincoln, recognizing her contributions to public life and her support for agriculture and rural communities.