Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the Prince of Wales, Charles, will represent his father, King Charles III, at the funeral of King Harald V of Norway. The funeral is scheduled for 9 September at Oslo Cathedral, following the monarch’s death on 28 August at the age of 89. The Prince of Wales will be accompanied by the Princess Royal, Anne, who is attending in a private capacity as the godmother to the new Norwegian king, Haakon VIII. Norway has experienced a wave of public mourning since the passing of King Harald, who was widely admired for his approachable nature, sense of humor, and ability to connect with the public. King Harald V reigned for 35 years and was known as a "people’s king" for his efforts to modernize the Norwegian monarchy. His funeral will include a number of dignitaries, including his widow, Queen Sonja. It is customary for a nation’s head of state not to attend the funeral of a foreign monarch, so the Prince of Wales will represent the British monarch at the ceremony. Charles expressed his condolences for his "dear cousin" and "much-loved kinsman and friend" after learning of Harald’s death. In a message of condolence, he praised Harald’s "unwavering dedication" and noted that his "kindness, compassion, and deep sense of duty" had an impact that reached across both the Atlantic Ocean and time. King Harald V and the late Queen Elizabeth II were second cousins, sharing common great-grandparents, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. The Prince of Wales previously represented his father at the funeral of Pope Francis in April 2023, following the pontiff’s death at the age of 88. During an official visit to Norway in 2018, William and then-wife Kate Middleton attended a dinner at the Royal Palace with King Harald and Queen Sonja. At that event, Harald referred to the British royals as "family" and acknowledged their support for the late Queen. The visit also included time on the ski slopes with the then-Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who are now the new King and Queen of Norway.