Norway’s King Harald V has died at the age of 89, the Norwegian royal palace announced on Friday, August 28, bringing an end to his decades-long reign.
The palace said the monarch died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital at 6:35 a.m. local time (0435 GMT) after being hospitalised for nearly two weeks.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce that His Majesty King Harald passed away today,” the palace said in a statement.
Following his death, the Norwegian flag at the Royal Palace in Oslo was lowered to half-mast as the country began mourning its long-serving monarch.
King Harald, who had been Norway’s monarch since 1991, was Europe’s oldest reigning king. His 53-year-old son, Crown Prince Haakon, automatically succeeds him to the Norwegian throne under the country’s constitutional succession rules.
King Harald’s Final Days
The king had been receiving treatment at Oslo University Hospital since August 17 after suffering from haemolytic anaemia, a condition in which red blood cells are destroyed more rapidly than they are replaced.
The condition can cause symptoms including severe fatigue and shortness of breath.
The royal family gathered at the hospital on Thursday after the palace announced that the king’s condition had become “extremely serious.”
Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and the couple’s adult children spent much of the day at his bedside.
Norwegian media reported that Crown Prince Haakon remained at the hospital overnight as his father’s condition deteriorated.
Norwegians Pay Tribute
Hundreds of members of the public gathered outside the Royal Palace in central Oslo for a second consecutive day, leaving flowers and paying their respects to the monarch.
Many mourners described King Harald as a unifying figure who represented stability and continuity in Norwegian society.
Kaspara Bolstad, 24, described Harald as “a very steady and warm king,” saying he was widely regarded as a role model.
“I think the entire Norwegian people see him as a role model and as someone who brings people together,” she said.
Another mourner, Skaugseth, praised the late king for promoting inclusion and social unity.
“He was so inclusive and committed to having values that are inclusive in the society we live in today,” Skaugseth said.
A Long Reign Comes to an End
King Harald became Norway’s monarch on January 21, 1991, following the death of his father, King Olav V.
Over more than three decades on the throne, Harald became a familiar and respected figure both in Norway and internationally.
His reign was marked by his commitment to public service, national unity and the modern Norwegian constitutional monarchy.
With his death, Norway enters a new royal era under King Haakon, who is expected to assume the responsibilities of the throne following his father’s passing.
