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Prince William travelled to Norway on Wednesday to pay his respects at the funeral of King Harald V, attending the solemn service alongside his aunt, Princess Anne.
Among the many moments during the emotional occasion, one particularly warm exchange stood out. William was seen sharing a touching interaction with Princess Ingrid Alexandra, who, like the Prince of Wales, is an heir to her country’s throne.
Once the funeral procession had concluded and the Norwegian royals had appeared on the balcony in Oslo, Prince William and Princess Anne joined other members of royalty and senior officials in offering their condolences directly to King Harald’s grieving family.
A particularly affectionate moment came when William reached Princess Ingrid Alexandra. As he greeted the young Norwegian royal, the Prince of Wales warmly kissed her on the cheek.
The pair share an unusual understanding of the responsibilities that come with being born into a monarchy. William is next in line to the British throne, while Ingrid Alexandra occupies the equivalent position in Norway, meaning both are preparing for futures shaped by significant royal duties.
Princess Anne was also seen offering personal support to the newly proclaimed King Haakon. Their connection is especially close, as Anne is Haakon’s godmother, and she appeared to comfort her godson during the deeply emotional occasion.
William and Anne’s united appearancе
Buckingham Palace confirmed on Saturday that Prince William and Princess Anne would travel to Norway as Britain’s royal representatives at King Harald V’s state funeral.
The Prince of Wales attended on behalf of his father, King Charles. It is customary for the reigning sovereign not to attend the funerals of other heads of state, meaning William was entrusted with representing the King at the solemn occasion.
Princess Anne’s presence, however, had a more personal significance. Rather than attending solely in an official role, the Princess Royal was there as godmother to the new Norwegian monarch, King Haakon.
During the proceedings in Oslo, William and Anne took their places among the mourners walking behind King Harald’s coffin as the funeral procession made its way towards Oslo Cathedral.
Prince William and Princess Anne were joined in Oslo by senior members of several European royal houses, with Princess Charlene of Monaco among those taking part in the solemn occasion.
The Netherlands was represented by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, who attended alongside their daughter and heir, Princess Catharina-Amalia.
Sweden’s royal family also had a significant presence at the funeral. King Carl XVI Gustaf was accompanied by Crown Princess Victoria, while Prince Daniel, Prince Carl Philip, Princess Sofia and Princess Madeleine were also among the royal mourners participating in the procession.
The funeral brought together an extensive gathering of royalty from across Europe and beyond. Among those paying their respects were Christopher O’Neill, Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Queen Rania, as well as Monaco’s Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene.
The Dutch royal household was represented by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, who were accompanied by their daughter and heir, Crown Princess Amalia. Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde were also among the senior royals attending the solemn occasion.
Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia travelled to Norway for the service, while Denmark was represented by King Frederik X, Queen Mary and their eldest son, Crown Prince Christian.
Luxembourg also sent several generations of its royal family, with Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stéphanie attending alongside Grand Duke Henri.
Completing the international royal presence were Liechtenstein’s Prince Alois and Princess Sophie, while Japan’s Imperial Family was represented by Crown Prince Fumihito Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko.
