King Harald V of Norway died on Friday at the age of 89. The monarch passed away at 6:35 a.m. at Rikshospitalet, Oslo's university hospital, where he had been hospitalized since August 17. His health had deteriorated significantly in recent days and was described on Thursday as "extremely serious." After more than 35 years on the throne, Harald V now leaves the crown to his son Haakon, until now the crown prince.
Harald V died at 6:35 am in Oslo
The Norwegian royal family announced the monarch's death this morning. "It is with profound sadness that we announce that His Majesty King Harald passed away today. King Harald died peacefully at Rikshospitalet on Friday, August 28, at 6:35 a.m. ," the royal palace stated. The flag at the Royal Palace in Oslo was immediately lowered to half-mast. Norwegians also began gathering outside the palace and laying flowers in tribute to the monarch. Harald V had been hospitalized since August 17. He suffered from hemolytic anemia, a condition characterized by the abnormally rapid destruction of red blood cells. Treatment with cortisone had caused fluid to accumulate in his body, necessitating his hospitalization. His condition subsequently worsened with the development of a bacterial infection in his blood, which was treated with antibiotics.
His condition had become "extremely serious".
Concerns intensified considerably on Thursday, August 27, when the palace announced a further deterioration in the king's health. His condition was then described as "extremely serious." Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon canceled their engagements to remain by his side. Haakon was already serving as regent during his father's inability to fulfill his constitutional duties. In recent years, Harald V had experienced several health problems. In 2024, he was hospitalized in Malaysia after contracting an infection during a private trip, before being repatriated to Norway. A pacemaker was subsequently implanted. Despite these recurring problems and his age, the king had always ruled out abdication.
More than 35 years on the throne of Norway
Born on February 21, 1937, in Skaugum, near Oslo, Harald was the son of King Olav V and Princess Märtha of Sweden. His childhood was directly marked by the Second World War. After the Nazi German invasion of Norway in April 1940, the young prince left the country with his mother and sisters. Part of his childhood was spent in exile in the United States before the royal family returned to Norway in 1945. Harald became Crown Prince in 1957 upon the accession of his father, Olav V. Upon the latter's death on January 17, 1991, he became King of Norway. His reign oversaw more than three decades of profound economic and social transformations in the country. Harald V notably sought to maintain a relatively simple monarchy, close to the people, within a political system where the sovereign is head of state but political power resides with the government and Parliament.
His marriage to Sonja had shaken the monarchy.
Harald V's personal life also contributed to the evolution of the Norwegian monarchy. For nearly nine years, the future king had been in a relationship with Sonja Haraldsen, a woman from the middle class with no royal lineage. The marriage had long faced resistance within the monarchy. Harald eventually informed his father that he would not marry any other woman. The couple received permission to marry in 1968. Harald and Sonja had two children: Princess Märtha Louise, born in 1971, and Prince Haakon, born in 1973.
A king deeply affected by the attacks of July 22, 2011
One of the most significant moments of his reign remains the monarchy's response to the attacks of July 22, 2011, when extremist Anders Behring Breivik killed 77 people in the Oslo bombing and the massacre on the island of Utøya. Harald V played a crucial role in the national mourning, issuing numerous messages of unity and meeting with the victims' families. This period reinforced his image as a sovereign close to the Norwegian people. The king also distinguished himself through several public statements advocating for an inclusive vision of Norwegian society. In a now-famous speech delivered in 2016, he spoke of a Norway composed of citizens from many countries, of different religions, and of both homosexual and heterosexual individuals, emphasizing what unites Norwegians beyond their differences.
Haakon becomes the new king of Norway
The death of Harald V immediately led to the succession of his son, Haakon. In the Norwegian monarchy, there is no period during which the throne remains vacant: the crown prince becomes king upon the death of the sovereign. Haakon must now complete the constitutional formalities accompanying his accession to the throne, notably before the government convened in an extraordinary Council of State. He must also officially adopt the name under which he will reign, as well as his royal motto. His eldest daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, born in 2004, in turn becomes heir to the throne. This succession opens a new era for the Norwegian monarchy after more than 35 years of Harald V's reign.
Norway enters mourning
The death of the king has ushered in a period of national mourning. Several days of ceremonies and tributes will precede the monarch's funeral in Oslo. Harald V will be laid to rest in the royal mausoleum at Akershus Fortress, where several members of the Norwegian royal family are buried, including his father, Olav V. With his passing, Norway loses the sovereign who had been at its head since January 1991. Harald V was 53 years old when he ascended the throne. He died at the age of 89, after dedicating more than three decades to the royal role and having refused, until the very end, the idea of abdication.
