The Prince of Wales will attend the funeral of King Harald V of Norway in Oslo next Wednesday, Buckingham Palace has announced.
Prince William's attendance follows the convention that a reigning monarch does not typically attend the funeral of another head of state, with royal sources indicating he will represent his father, King Charles.
Princess Anne is also expected to be present at the service, attending in a personal capacity. She is the godmother to Norway's new monarch, King Haakon VIII.
King Harald V, a popular and modernising figure who had reigned for 35 years, passed away last month at the age of 89. He was widely regarded as a "people's king" who helped to modernise the monarchy and served as a unifying figure for Norway.
Large crowds are anticipated to gather in Oslo for the farewell to King Harald on 9 September. A funeral procession will be followed by a service at Oslo Cathedral, where thousands are expected to pay their respects.
Ahead of the funeral, thousands queued in the Norwegian capital to pay their respects during his lying in state in the chapel of the Royal Palace.
At the funeral service, Prince William will join the widowed Queen Sonja, members of the Norwegian royal family including the new King Haakon VIII, and other European royals. Following the service, a private burial will take place in Norway's royal mausoleum within the Akershus Fortress.
Tributes have been made across Europe following King Harald's death. His son, King Haakon VIII, delivered an emotional televised speech, stating: "Thank you for being such a good dad." King Haakon also praised his father for representing the values of a "society built on law and justice, where everyone is of equal value."
King Charles's message lauded his cousin, King Harald, for serving his people with "unwavering dedication, guiding Norway through times of great change with warmth and humility."
King Haakon VIII assumes the throne at a challenging period for the Norwegian royal family, which has recently faced public scrutiny due to several scandals.
His wife, Queen Mette-Marit, publicly apologised after revelations emerged regarding a three-year friendship she maintained with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Additionally, her son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby, was convicted in June of rape and other offences, receiving a four-year prison sentence. He is currently appealing the conviction.
While Prince William is in Norway, King Charles has returned to Scotland. This follows his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this week at the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition in London. The King is also scheduled to host Andy Burnham at Balmoral this weekend, continuing the traditional annual visit of the prime minister to stay with the monarch.
