Norway’s King Harald V has died at the age of 89 after 35 years on the throne.
The Royal Palace in Oslo announced that the king died peacefully at 6:35 a.m. local time on Friday at Oslo University Hospital. The royal flag above the palace was lowered to half-mast as the country began mourning.
Members of the royal family had visited Harald in the hours before his death, while members of the public gathered outside the palace to lay flowers.
Harald became king in 1991 after the death of his father, King Olav V. He was Norway’s first king born in the country since the 14th Century.
He will be succeeded by his 53-year-old son, Crown Prince Haakon, who is expected to hold an extraordinary Council of State with the government on Friday.
Harald was widely regarded as a popular and approachable monarch who helped modernise Norway’s royal family. His decision to marry Sonja Haraldsen, a commoner, was considered an important break with royal tradition.
The couple married at Oslo Cathedral on August 29, 1968, after Harald spent years seeking permission from his father.
Throughout his reign, Harald became known for his openness and close relationship with ordinary Norwegians. Royal observers often described him as the “People’s King” and a “grandfather” of the nation.
One of his most memorable moments came after the 2011 terrorist attacks in Oslo and Utøya, when he called on Norwegians to stand together and reject fear.
Harald was also a keen sailor. He represented Norway at three Olympic Games and remained involved in sailing for much of his life. He was also a strong supporter of environmental conservation.
Born on February 21, 1937, Harald was only three when Nazi Germany invaded Norway during the Second World War. He spent part of his childhood abroad before returning to Norway after the war.
He became crown prince in 1957 and studied social sciences, history and economics at Oxford University between 1960 and 1962.
Harald became regent when his father fell ill in 1990 and ascended to the throne after King Olav’s death on January 17, 1991.
In his later years, the Norwegian royal family faced several controversies, including scrutiny surrounding Crown Princess Mette-Marit and her son, Marius Borg Høiby, as well as Princess Märtha Louise’s personal and business activities.
Despite these challenges, Harald remained a respected national figure.
He is survived by Queen Sonja, their daughter Princess Märtha Louise, their son King Haakon and six grandchildren.
After more than three decades on the throne, Norway now begins a new chapter under King Haakon.
