King Harald V of Norway passed away on Friday, August 28, at the age of 89, the Royal Palace announced. Hospitalized since August 17 in Oslo, the sovereign died at 6:35 a.m. local time at the Rikshospitalet, according to a palace statement. “It is with deep sadness that we announce that His Majesty King Harald has left us today,” the statement said, noting that the king died “peacefully” at the national hospital.
Harald V, who was until now the oldest reigning monarch in Europe, had been facing health issues for several years. He notably suffered from hemolytic anemia, a blood disease characterized by an abnormally rapid destruction of red blood cells.
Crown Prince Haakon, 53, automatically succeeds his father as head of the Norwegian monarchy. He had already been serving as regent since the king’s hospitalization and reportedly spent the night at his bedside, according to Norwegian media. He is now expected to inform the government of the sovereign’s death and convene its members.
Around the royal palace, residents had gathered since the announcement of the king’s deteriorating health to lay flowers and pay their respects. The Norwegian flag was flown at half-mast following the announcement of his death.
Born in 1937, Harald V ascended the throne in 1991 after the death of his father, King Olav V. During his 35-year reign, he established himself as a unifying figure for Norway and embodied an open and tolerant image of the monarchy.
Despite his repeated health problems in recent years, the king had always ruled out abdication, recalling that he had taken a lifelong oath before Parliament. Several official engagements were interrupted or postponed following the announcement of his declining health, including a trip to Germany by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
The death of Harald V comes as the Norwegian royal family has faced several controversies in recent months. Revelations concerning Crown Princess Mette-Marit and the legal troubles of her son, Marius Borg Høiby, have affected the image of the royal family.
Documents published in the United States in January revealed sustained correspondence between Mette-Marit and American financier Jeffrey Epstein between 2011 and 2014, even though he had already been convicted of sex offenses.
The Crown Princess, who also suffers from an incurable lung disease and underwent a lung transplant in June, has also been confronted with her son’s legal cases.
Marius Borg Høiby, 29, born from a previous relationship of Mette-Marit before her marriage to Haakon in 2001, was sentenced in June to four years in prison for two rapes and 32 other counts, including violence against a former partner. He is currently under house arrest with an electronic bracelet pending his appeal trial.
Despite these affairs, the Norwegian monarchy remains popular. King Harald, in particular, was considered one of its main unifying figures.
Captured & Published at: 2026-08-28 11:08:38 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
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