King Harald V of Norway, Europe’s oldest monarch, has died at the age of 89 after 35 years on the throne.
The Norwegian royal family announced on its website that he died shortly after 6:35 a.m. Friday. Harald is succeeded as monarch by his son Haakon.
He leaves behind his wife of 57 years, Queen Sonia, two children and five grandchildren. His granddaughter Ingrid Alexandra becomes heir to the Norwegian throne.
Harald’s death came at a difficult time for the Norwegian royal family. Haakon’s wife, the current queen Mette-Marit, has had health problems in recent years and attracted global attention this year when it was revealed that she had past contacts with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Shortly thereafter, her former partner’s son was convicted of rape and domestic violence and sentenced to four years in prison.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gare Stoer said the “entire nation is in mourning” following Harald’s death, adding that Norwegians “are deeply grateful to Harald for his long service to Norway.” Crowds gathered in front of Oslo’s Royal Palace to pay their respects, and the government declared a nationwide period of mourning.
Following the announcement, tributes poured in from other royal families in Sweden, Denmark and the United Kingdom, as well as political leaders from across Europe.
Britain’s King Charles said Harald’s family was mourning the loss of “a friend whose kindness, compassion and deep sense of duty resonated across oceans and decades.” King Frederick and Queen Mary of Denmark paid tribute to Harald as “a fine man with a bright eye and a big heart.”
Harald’s health has deteriorated significantly over the past few days since he was admitted to hospital due to “accumulation of fluid in the body” due to a blood disorder. Then he developed an infection.
Harald was 53 years old when he ascended the throne in 1991.
In accordance with their wishes, Harald and Sonja held a consecration ceremony on June 23, 1991 at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, central Norway, which included traditions dating back to the Middle Ages. Following the ceremony, the pair toured southern Norway for 10 days, followed by a 22-day tour of Norway’s four northernmost counties in 1992.
Harald was born on February 21, 1937, the youngest of three children, but the only boy. The Norwegian constitution at the time stipulated that only male heirs could inherit titles.
Harald was just three years old when the German army invaded Norway, and his family and Norwegian government officials were forced to flee to neighboring Sweden.
After several months there, the family left the safety of Scandinavia and Harald was taken to Washington, D.C., with his mother and older sisters. Meanwhile, his grandfather Haakon VII and father Olaf moved to London until the end of the German occupation.
On June 7, 1945, after Germany surrendered to the Allies in World War II, eight-year-old Harald returned to Norway with the rest of the royal family and was welcomed by thousands of people on the streets of the capital, Oslo.
To emphasize the royal family’s ties to the Norwegian people and to modernize the monarchy, Harald attended public school for his early education, where his experience was no different from that of other children, except for the guards posted outside.
He completed his secondary education at Oslo Cathedral School and then completed one year of compulsory military service at the Norwegian Cavalry Officer Training School. He studied social science, history and economics at Oxford University in England.
Harald grew up on the outskirts of the capital on the outskirts of the Oslofjord on the royal estate of Skaugam, and enjoyed an outdoor lifestyle from an early age.
An avid sailor, he inherited his love of water from his father, King Olaf V.
The Norwegian royal family estimates that they took part in more than 1,000 regattas and events during their lifetime, adding: “Prince Harald was 10 years old when he first competed as a crew member in 1946.”
As Crown Prince, Harald represented Norway in sailing at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and was the country’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony. He also participated in the 1968 Mexico City Games and the 1972 Munich Games.
Harald dated Sonja Haraldsen for nine years before King Olaf V, after consultation with the Norwegian parliament, allowed their marriage.
King Olaf was reportedly reluctant to allow the marriage to proceed because the bride-to-be was a “commoner,” but it is believed that he only relented when his son threatened to abdicate the throne.
The couple held a lavish wedding ceremony in Oslo Cathedral on August 29, 1968 in front of 800 guests. The wedding celebrations lasted three days as celebrations were held across the country to honor the couple.
The couple had two children, a daughter, Princess Martha Louise, in 1971, and a son, the current King Haakon, two years later. A subsequent constitutional amendment in 1990 amended the rules for accession to the throne so that the eldest son could ascend to the throne regardless of gender.
In 2022, his daughter Princess Martha Louise stepped down from royal duties. Harald thanked the princess for her “significant efforts” over her decades of public service. “She has carried out her work with great care, warmth and dedication,” he said, deciding to retain her title as princess despite stepping back.
King Harald V was the first Norwegian-born prince in 567 years.
Norway was ruled by Denmark and Sweden at various times until independence in 1905, when voters decided in a referendum that the country should remain a monarchy, and Harald’s Danish-born grandfather, King Haakon VII, became king.
When he ascended the throne, Harald, like his father and grandfather before him, adopted the motto: “We will do our best for Norway.”
According to state broadcaster NRK, the king and queen are believed to have traveled extensively across the country, visiting almost every county and municipality.
In Norway, the king’s official duties are largely ceremonial, but on Friday he presides over a meeting of the Council of State, which officially opens a new session of the Norwegian parliament each year.
The monarch also needs to rubber-stamp legislation and decisions approved by the State Council with the prime minister’s countersign before enactment.
In recent years, Harald’s health had deteriorated. He has had two heart surgeries, most recently in 2020 to replace an implanted valve that was first installed in 2005. During both periods, his son Haakon served as regent and performed official duties.
In September 2021, he underwent surgery to repair the damaged tendon above his right knee, and was often seen using crutches after the surgery.
Despite being hospitalized with a respiratory infection in May 2023 and requiring rest after being discharged, the King kept a busy diary that year, completing 275 missions.
Harald was hospitalized a year later while on a private holiday on the Malaysian island of Langkawi. According to Norway’s royal family, he was treated for an infection and a slow heart rate, which required him to be fitted with a pacemaker.
Despite his poor health, Harald performed his royal duties until his strength ran out.
In January 2024, following the abdication of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, he responded to speculation about his retirement and reiterated that his role is a lifelong obligation. “I stand by what I have said and have taken an oath,” he said at a press conference, “and it will last for the rest of my life.”
