King Harald V of Norway, the country’s monarch for 35 years, has died at 89 following a serious health crisis.
The Royal Palace in Oslo confirmed Friday, Aug. 28, that Harald died peacefully at 6:35 a.m. local time at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet. The palace said the announcement was made “with deep grief.”
Harald’s death came after a series of health setbacks. He had been hospitalized after developing a bacterial bloodstream infection and was receiving antibiotic treatment. His condition was later described by the royal household as “very serious.”
The monarch’s final days drew widespread concern in Norway. Family members gathered at the hospital, while members of the public left flowers outside the Royal Palace in Oslo as news of his deteriorating condition spread.
Now, Norway has a new king.
Harald’s only son, Crown Prince Haakon, immediately succeeded him on the throne. Haakon, 53, becomes Norway’s monarch following his father’s death, while his eldest child, 22-year-old Princess Ingrid Alexandra, moves into the position of heir apparent.
Harald’s reign began on Jan. 17, 1991, following the death of his father, King Olav V. He and Queen Sonja were later consecrated at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim in June of that year.
His marriage to Sonja was itself a notable moment in modern Norwegian royal history. The couple married in 1968 after a long relationship, despite Sonja being a commoner. They went on to have two children, Princess Märtha Louise and Haakon.
Together, Harald and Sonja became familiar figures both at home and abroad, representing Norway on state visits and welcoming foreign leaders and members of other royal families.
Harald was also known for presenting a notably inclusive vision of Norwegian identity. In a widely remembered 2016 speech, he spoke about Norwegians of different sexual orientations, faiths and backgrounds, declaring, “Norway is you. Norway is us.”
His own childhood had been shaped by war. Born on Feb. 21, 1937, Harald was the only son of Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Märtha. When Nazi Germany invaded Norway in 1940, the royal family fled, and the young prince eventually spent part of the war years in the United States with his mother and sisters.
Harald later trained as a military officer and studied social sciences, history and economics at Oxford’s Balliol College. He was also an accomplished sailor, representing Norway at three Olympic Games and later becoming both European and world champion in sailing.
Throughout his reign, Harald remained committed to the role he inherited. His motto captured that approach: “We give our all for Norway.”
Now, after more than three decades on the throne, that chapter has come to an end.
Norway has lost its king—and a new era for the Norwegian royal family has begun.
