Princess Anne's lesser-known role...as the godmother everyone wishes they had! Royal supported her godson King Haakon of Norway at his father's funeral this week - and is also a mentor to 6 others

Princess Anne's affectionate bond with Norway's new King came into sharp focus this week as she quietly supported Haakon VIII during his father, Harald V's emotional funeral. While the Prince of Wales formally represented the British Royal Family at the late monarch's historic state funeral, the King's younger sister insisted on joining William, 44, for an altogether more personal reason. The Princess Royal, considered The Firm's hardest-working member, is one of the new Norwegian king's six godparents – including his late aunt Princess Astrid, who died this week – and felt it was her duty to stand by Haakon, 53, during what has been a difficult time for him. And the smile on Haakon's face as he spoke to Anne made it clear how much he appreciated her support and counsel, as a video showed the typically reserved Anne kissing her godson on both cheeks after the service. Members of the Royal Family have traditionally had several godchildren, including the late Queen Elizabeth and now-King Charles, but the numbers have dwindled in more recent times. In addition to Haakon, only six other people count Anne as their godmother – including a Serbian prince, the grandson of Prince Philip's eldest sister Princess Margarita and the great-granddaughter of the 1st Earl of Mountbatten of Burma. While the Prince of Wales officially represented King Charles III at Harald's funeral earlier this week, Princess Anne attended the event in a personal capacity as the new King Haakon VIII's godmother. The Princess Royal, considered The Firm's hardest-working member, is one of the new Norwegian king's six godparents and felt it was her duty to stand by Haakon Anne is also godmother to Prince Peter of Serbia, the eldest son of HRH Crown Prince Alexander and HRH Princess Maria da Gloria of Orleans-Braganza Kelly Knatchbull, the great-granddaughter of the 1st Earl of Mountbatten of Burma, is also one of the Princess Royal's seven godchildrenFollowing the birth of Haakon on July 20, 1973, Princess Anne was named as one of his godparents, along with his late grandfather, Olav V, Sweden's Carl XVI Gustaf, Denmark's Queen Margrethe, Prince Carl Bernadotte and Harald V's older sister Princess Astrid, who died two days after the late monarch. Reuniting with her godson at Harald V's funeral, Anne warmly hugged Haakon VIII after his father was laid to rest at Akershus Fortress and their conversation brought a smile to the new King's face despite the sombre occasion.Anne previously spent time with Haakon when she travelled to Oslo for an official visit in 2024 under much happier circumstances. The princess, who is known for her stoic demeanour, looked overjoyed to see her godson, then Crown Prince Haakon, as they embarked on a day of joint engagements at the Norwegian Resistance Museum in the capital. Beaming when she saw him, Anne received a warm welcome from Haakon as they kissed on the cheek and exchanged the latest family news. This was shortly after the back-to-back cancer diagnoses of King Charles and the Princess of Wales, who is now in remission. While the King continues to receive treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer, he announced it would be significantly scaled back during a video message last December. Princess Anne, who stepped up to support the Royal Family during her brother's health battle, and Haakon met up outside the museum and spoke to the 100-year-old war veteran, Trond Ivar Johansen. Anne previously spent time with Haakon when she travelled to Oslo for an official visit in 2024 under much happier circumstancesThe museum is located on top of Akershus Fortress, built in the late 1290s by Haakon V to protect Oslo. It is also the final resting place of late monarch Harald V, who was buried in the medieval castle alongside his parents, King Olav and Crown Princess Martha, after his funeral service on September 9. Although Princess Anne has seven godchildren in total, her relationship with Haakon is the most public. She has rarely been seen with Prince Peter, the eldest son of HRH Crown Prince Alexander and HRH Princess Maria da Gloria of Orleans-Braganza, who in 2022 renounced his rights as future head of the Serbian dynasty. The London-educated prince, who attended The King's School Canterbury in England and Camberwell College of Arts, has pursued a career in graphic design and art direction instead. Prince Peter was known as the Hereditary Prince before he abdicated in favour of his younger brother Philip in a ceremony in Spain four years ago. The prince, who reportedly now lives in London and has never married, stated at the time: 'By the act of abdication, I renounce for myself and all my descendants who were born or will be born in a marital relationship or out of wedlock.'I transfer all the rights based on the birthright to the next one born after the eldership, my brother Prince Philip, which is an automatic process with this abdication and our sovereign's will.'I do not waive the rights arising from the right to inherit the name, member of the Royal House, the title of Prince and all other rights and obligations that law and tradition give and impose on a family member.'The ceremony was witnessed by Prince Peter's mother, Princess Maria da Glória, and Prince Philip. The new Hereditary Prince tied the knot with graphic designer Danica Marinkovic in a lavish wedding ceremony in Belgrade in 2017. They share two children, son Stefan, eight, and daughter Marija, two. Princess Anne is also godmother to Philipp, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, the great-nephew of the late Duke of Edinburgh Among the small group of people who have this special relationship with Princess Anne is Lady Eloise Anson, the daughter of the 8th Earl of LichfieldThe daughter of one of King Charles's closest friends, Tory MSP Donald Cameron, also has the privilege of calling Princess Anne her godmother. Donald Cameron of Lochiel, who was the 27th chief of Clan Cameron, and his wife Lady Cecil Nennella Therese Kerr, were friends of the King and Queen. His Majesty stood as sponsor at the christening of the clan chief's eldest daughter, Catherine, who was also one of Princess Diana's bridesmaids. Meanwhile, Princess Anne was named godmother to Lucy Margot Therese, the youngest child of Donald and Lady Cecil. Among the small group of people who have this special relationship with Princess Anne is Lady Eloise Anson, the daughter of the 8th Earl of Lichfield. Her father was an acclaimed photographer and most famously captured then-Prince Charles's wedding to the late Lady Diana in 1981. Lady Eloise, who was once a muse to royal milliner Philip Treacy, exchanged vows with comic writer Louis Waymouth in a ceremony at the St Mary & Bartholomew Church in Cranborne, Dorset 13 years ago. Princess Anne is also godmother to Philipp, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, the great-nephew of the late Duke of Edinburgh. Philipp, who is the grandson of the Duke's eldest sister Princess Margarita, was one of Prince Philip's three German relatives who attended his funeral in 2021. Recalling fond memories of his beloved uncle, the late Queen's husband, Philipp told royal biographer Robert Hardman: 'It was such a joy having a conversation with him. His memory was extraordinary.'He could remember playing hide-and-seek in the castle when he was a boy, and he always enjoyed talking to the local people.'He could switch from German to English and back, whether he was talking about Winston Churchill or the local wildlife.'Philipp is married to Saskia Binder, and the couple have three children, Max Leopold, Gustav and Marita.Finally, Princess Anne counts Alice McVittie, the daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm McVittie, and Kelly Knatchbull, the great-granddaughter of Lord Mountbatten, among her godchildren. Kelly, 38, is the daughter of film producer Michael-John Knatchbull and works as a showbusiness talent agent. As a child, she starred opposite Peter Capaldi in the Christmas film The Greatest Store In The World. Kelly married fellow agent Alexander Cooke after the pair announced their engagement in 2021, as the Daily Mail's Diary Editor Richard Eden reported: Kelly never thought she'd find a husband through work.' Earlier this week, Anne received an honorary degree from the University of Lincoln in recognition of her contribution to public life and her support for both agriculture and rural communities.