Norway’s King Harald V has died at 89, ending a 35-year reign and paving the way for his son, Crown Prince Haakon, to succeed him.
The Norwegian Royal Palace said the king died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital at 6:35 a.m. on Friday, August 28.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce that His Majesty King Harald passed away today. King Harald passed away peacefully at Oslo University Hospital on Friday, August 28 at 6:35 am,” the palace said in a statement.
The flag at the Royal Palace in Oslo was lowered to half-mast following the announcement.
Harald, who was Europe’s oldest reigning monarch, had been receiving treatment at the hospital since August 17 for haemolytic anaemia, a condition involving the abnormal destruction of red blood cells that can cause fatigue and shortness of breath.
His condition was described as “extremely serious” on Thursday, prompting members of the royal family to rush to his bedside.
Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon, his wife Mette-Marit and their adult children spent much of Thursday at the hospital. Reports said Haakon remained at his father’s bedside overnight.
Members of the public gathered outside the palace in central Oslo for a second consecutive day on Friday, laying flowers and mourning the monarch.
Kaspara Bolstad, 24, described Harald as “a very steady and warm king”.
“I think the entire Norwegian people see him as a role model and as someone who brings people together. Whether you’re for or against the monarchy, I think he’s well-liked across the board,” she said.
Magnus Skaugseth, 27, also praised the late king’s ability to unite people.
“He was so inclusive and committed to having values that are inclusive in the society we live in today. When there is so much division and polarisation, he was a pillar pointing in the opposite direction,” Skaugseth said.
Harald’s Reign and Health Struggles
King Harald ascended the Norwegian throne in 1991 and faced several health challenges during his later years.
He had a pacemaker fitted and reduced his official schedule as his health deteriorated, but repeatedly ruled out abdicating the throne, saying he had made a lifelong oath before the Norwegian parliament.
In February, the king was hospitalised in Tenerife with an infection and dehydration while on a private trip with Queen Sonja.
His death came after another difficult year for Norway’s royal family.
Queen Sonja, also 89, was briefly hospitalised in May after experiencing heart problems.
Crown Prince Haakon’s wife, Mette-Marit, has faced scrutiny over her ties to the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Her son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Hoiby, has also faced legal troubles. He was sentenced in June to four years in prison for two rapes and 32 other charges, including violence against a former partner. He has appealed the verdict.
Mette-Marit, 53, who suffers from a serious lung disease, underwent a lung transplant in July.
Norway Mourns Popular Monarch
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store cancelled a planned work trip to Germany on Thursday as concern grew over the king’s deteriorating condition.
Despite the controversies surrounding other members of the royal family, the monarchy remains broadly popular in Norway.
Harald’s unifying public image and modest, unassuming lifestyle contributed significantly to his popularity during his reign.
With his death, Crown Prince Haakon is set to succeed him as Norway’s new monarch.
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