King Charles will be represented by his son at King Harold’s funeral (Image: Getty)

The Prince of Wales will represent the King at the funeral of King Harald V of Norway on Wednesday, Buckingham Palace has announced. This is in accordance with protocol, which dictates that the sovereign does not attend funerals of other Heads of State. This precedent was seen last April, when William attended the funeral of Pope Francis on the King’s behalf.

William will be joined by his aunt, the Princess Royal, who will attend the service in a private and personal capacity as godmother to King Haakon VIII, who has succeeded his father.

King Harald of Norway died on August 28 at the age of 89, having been taken to hospital a week earlier for treatment for a rare blood condition. He is survived by his wife of almost 58 years, Queen Sonja, their daughter Princess Märtha Louise, their son, the new King Haakon, and six grandchildren.

Following news of his death, King Charles sent his “most heartfelt condolences” at the death of his “dear cousin” – who was a second cousin to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II. In a personal message, the British monarch praised his cousin’s 35 years of “unwavering dedication” to the Norwegian people.

The King reflected on the close relationship between the British and Norwegian Royal Families, as well as the longstanding ties between the two nations.

“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,” he said.

Charles concluded his message by offering his condolences to Queen Sonja and the rest of the Norwegian Royal Family.

He wrote: “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.”

The King has returned to Balmoral this weekend after spending time in London for a series of scheduled engagements earlier in the week. He is currently hosting Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his wife, Marie-France van Heel, at his Scottish residence, his first since taking office in July.