How Harald V's state funeral will unfold: Prince William to lead extraordinary gathering of royals from Japan to Jordan - and the role Norway's Queen will play despite her health issues

Preparations are underway in Oslo for the funeral of Norway's Harald V, whose death after 35 years on the throne has plunged the country into mourning. More than 150 flights carrying royal guests, heads of state and VIPs are expected to land at Gardermoen ahead of the royal state funeral tomorrow afternoon as photos showed the Crown Prince and Princess of Serbia, Japan and Bulgaria arriving in Oslo.Harald - a cousin of King Charles III - died on August 28 aged 89 following a hospital admission where he was treated for haemolytic anaemia, a disorder causing red blood cells to be destroyed at an abnormally fast rate.A statement released by the Norwegian Palace confirmed the late monarch will be laid to rest on Wednesday, September 9, at Oslo Cathedral, with kings, queens, princes, heads of state and dignitaries from across the world expected to attend the funeral service. The Prince of Wales - who dropped off his eldest son Prince George at Eton College today - will lead an extraordinary gathering of royals as he represents his father King Charles III. In keeping with precedent that the sovereign does not attend funerals of other heads of state, the duty falls to William, a future king, to represent his father and pay his respects at the poignant service.William will be joined by his aunt, Anne, Princess Royal, 76, who will appear in a personal and private capacity as the godmother of Norway's new king, Haakon VIII, 53.The death of Harald follows an especially tumultuous period for the Norwegian royals - from the new Queen Mette-Marit's health setbacks and the scandal surrounding her friendship with Jeffrey Epstein to her son Marius Borg Hoiby's rape conviction. Preparations are underway in Oslo for the funeral of Norway's Harald V , whose death after 35 years on the throne has plunged the country into mourningControversially, Haakon's 29-year-old stepson, who has been under house arrest since July, will attend Harald's funeral after he was also allowed to carry Harald's bier from the Royal Palace to the Palace Chapel for his lying in state. Hoiby, who was found guilty of two counts of rape and sentenced to four years in prison, was pictured alongside Haakon, Princess Martha Louise, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, as they carried Harald's coffin through the palace on August 31. It is not known whether he will join the royal procession walking behind Harald's bier after it leaves the Royal Palace at noon tomorrow, as mourners line the streets of Oslo to bid farewell to the 'grandfather of the nation' and a 21-gun salute is fired at Akershus Fortress. Mette-Marit will travel alongside Harald's widow Queen Sonja in an A2 Audi after she missed her husband's swearing-in ceremony due to 'complications' from her recent lung transplant surgery in June. Haakon's sister Martha Louise, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, who is now first in line to the throne, and Prince Sverre Magnus will all be in attendance, as per a detailed guide to the proceedings released by the royal household. However, Martha Louise's 'shaman' husband Durek Verrett is not listed on the official list of names confirmed to participate in the Royal Procession before Harald's bier arrives at Oslo Cathedral at 1pm for the service. At the beginning of the ceremony, which will be led by the president of the Church of Norway, Olav Fykse Tveit, a minute of silence will be observed throughout the country. After the funeral, Harald's coffin will be taken to Akershus Fortress for a private service attended only by his family and foreign royals, according to Hello! magazine. Harald will be buried alongside his parents, King Olav and Crown Princess Martha, as a second ceremonial gun salute marks the end of the ceremony. Flags that have been flying at half-mast will be raised to their highest point as the country's church bells ring for an hour before the Norwegian royal family drive back to the palace for their balcony appearance. The Prince of Wales - who dropped off his eldest son Prince George at Eton College today - will lead an extraordinary gathering of royals as he represents his father King Charles III Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia and Yugoslavia arrivef at the Grand Hotel in Oslo, Norway, this morning Princess Rosario Nadal of Preslav (Princess Rosario of Bulgaria) will also attend tomorrow's royal state funeral Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and his wife Crown Princess Kiko boarding a plane at Haneda airport bound for Norway Norwegian national flags set on half mast at the Karl Johans Gate road, which leads to the royal palace, at the eve of the funeral of Norway's late King HaraldThe day will end with an official reception at the Palace, attended by royalty, heads of state and government officials. Senior royals from around the globe are expected in Oslo to pay their respects to Harald, who maintained a close friendship with his counterparts from Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands. King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark will attend the funeral with their children, Crown Prince Christian and Princess Benedikte, alongside Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel. Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde will also be in attendance, joining King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain along with Queen Sofia. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands will be accompanied by Princess Beatrix, who abdicated the throne in 2013, with Monaco's Prince Albert also among those confirmed to attend the state funeral. King Abdullah of Jordan, Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko of Japan, Greece's Queen Anne-Marie and Prince Kyril of Bulgaria will also be present at tomorrow's service. The royals are expected to wear black for the funeral, including mourning veils worn by the women. While Charles, who is receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer, will not attend the funeral in line with state protocol, the King extended his 'deepest and most heartfelt condolences' to the Norwegian Royal Family following the death of his 'dear cousin'. Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway sits next to her father King Haakon VIII of Norway during an oath-taking ceremony for the new king to Norway's constitution in the main chamber of the Norwegian Parliament The coffin of King Harald V of Norway is moved from the Red Salon to the Palace Chapel in Oslo on August 31, 2026 by members of the royal family Controversially, Haakon's 29-year-old stepson Marius Borg Hoiby was allowed to carry the bier after he was convicted of rape in July The pair were second cousins once removed, sharing great-great-grandparents Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark.He said: 'As Norway mourns the loss of so towering a figure, my whole family join in remembering a much-loved kinsman and friend whose kindness, compassion and deep sense of duty echoed from across the sea and across the decades.'The Queen and I extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Queen Sonja and all her family, as Britain shares in Norway's grief at this time of such heartbreaking loss.'King Haakon later paid tribute to his father in his first official speech as monarch, in which he thanked Harald 'for everything he was and everything he did'.Wearing a sombre black suit and sat beside a picture of Harald, King Haakon described him as 'such a good father', and a 'loving and thoughtful husband'.He said: 'As king, my father represented Norway and the Norwegian people with pride and joy, through visits around the country, at events here at the royal palace, and while working on Norway's behalf around the world.'I'm going to miss him. I'll miss his laughter. His good-natured way of dealing with people and situations.'King Haakon VIII swore an oath of allegiance without his wife, as their daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 22, took Mette-Marit's place and stood by his side.Norway's Queen Mette-Marit has suffered 'complications' from her lung transplant Norway's Queen Sonja (centre) is welcomed by Oyvind Stabrun (left) and parish priest Ida Buen Hanevold (2ndL), upon her arrival to attend a memorial church service for her late husband, King Harald V on August 30, 2026Mette-Marit missed the historic day as she is under medical observation due to the 'complications' from her lung transplant surgery in June.The queen was also unable to attend her late father-in-law's church memorial service over the weekend.The Norwegian royal family shared a statement this morning from pulmonologist Dr Are Holm from Norway's National Hospital confirming the 53-year-old's absence.He said: 'It is not uncommon for complications to occur after a lung transplant. The queen has had complications on some occasions since the operation, including today.'As a result, the queen must be observed throughout the day. The queen will therefore unfortunately not be able to attend the swearing-in ceremony in the Storting today.'The 53-year-old was removed from the event programme available on the Royal House's website, and the new king was joined by his children, Princess Ingrid and Prince Sverre, alongside his mother, Queen Sonja.The new queen has suffered for several years from chronic pulmonary fibrosis.Her condition has deteriorated significantly over the past six months, and she was placed on a waiting list for a lung transplant earlier this summer.Doctors said the procedure was a last resort when a patient is believed to have less than two years to live without new lungs.After the surgery, the Royal House of Norway confirmed the transplant had been successful and that 'everything has progressed well so far'.In July, the future queen suspended her official duties, and Norway's royal court said 'there will be a longer period of rehabilitation and training' during which 'there will initially be no updates'.Haakon confirmed at the time he would cut back his public engagements to spend time with his wife; however, this may change now that he is Norway's new king.King Haakon's first official address to the nation came as tributes to his father poured in all weekend. Thousands of mourners descended on Oslo to pay their respects to the late king, placing flowers, flags and condolence cards outside the Royal Palace.Flags were flying at half-mast throughout the country, as portraits of Harald in gala uniform were displayed everywhere, from metro stations to public buildings.Churches and city halls were also opened specially so people could light candles and write their thoughts about the deceased king in condolence books.Harald – who was known for his warmth, humour and informal style – has been hailed as an inclusive 'people’s king' who modernised the Norwegian monarchy during his 35 year-reign.