Norway's King Harald V, the oldest reigning monarch in Europe, passed away on Friday at Oslo University Hospital. He was 89. The royal palace announced his death in a statement, saying he died peacefully at 6:35 am.
Harald had been in hospital since August 17, initially with haemolytic anaemia, a condition where red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be replaced. He later developed a bacterial blood infection. His condition was described as "extremely serious" on Thursday, prompting his family to rush to his bedside. Crown Prince Haakon reportedly kept vigil overnight.
The flag at the royal palace in Oslo was lowered to half-mast as mourners gathered outside to lay flowers. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre cancelled a planned trip to Germany as the king's condition deteriorated.
A life shaped by war and duty
Born in 1937 near Oslo, Harald was the first Norwegian-born prince in over 500 years. Norway had shared monarchs with Denmark and Sweden for centuries, but became fully independent in 1905. When Nazi Germany invaded in 1940, the three-year-old prince fled with his mother and sisters to Sweden and then the United States, while his father and grandfather went into exile in Britain. The family returned after the war in 1945.
Harald attended public schools, trained at Norway's military academy, and studied at Oxford. A keen sailor, he represented Norway at three Olympic Games and later won a world championship. He married Sonja Haraldsen in 1968 after a nine-year courtship that required his father's approval. The couple had two children, Märtha Louise and Haakon.
He ascended the throne in 1991, adopting the motto "All for Norway." Despite limited constitutional powers, he became a unifying figure. After Anders Behring Breivik killed 77 people in 2011, Harald declared that "freedom is stronger than fear." In a widely praised 2016 speech, he embraced LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, and different religious beliefs, saying "Norwegians are girls who love girls, boys who love boys, and girls and boys who love each other." He added, "Norway is you. Norway is us."
In recent years, Harald faced health challenges, including a pacemaker, but he repeatedly ruled out abdication, citing the lifelong oath he took before parliament. His reign saw Norway's monarchy modernize while navigating national tragedies and, in his final years, family scandal.
The king's death comes as his condition had worsened earlier this week. His passing may also have implications for Norway's European ties, as Iceland's EU vote could reshape the region's dynamics. Meanwhile, Norway continues to address other policy areas, such as privacy rules for smart glasses.
King Harald V is succeeded by Crown Prince Haakon. The nation now enters a period of mourning, with tributes expected from across Europe and the world.
