King Harald V has died at the age of 89. The King of Norway passed away at Rikshospitalet in Oslo on Friday morning after his health had rapidly deteriorated in recent days.
King Harald V passed away at 6:35 a.m. on Friday, August 28. The Norwegian Royal House announced this in a statement. This brought to an end a 35-year reign for the monarch, who succeeded his father as king Olav V January 17, 1991. When he ascended to the throne, he adopted the motto ”Everything for Norway.”.
”It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of His Majesty King Harald.”, ", the Royal House writes in the statement.
When Harald ascended the throne in 1991, he became the first Norwegian king in 567 years to have been born in Norway. The last one before him was the medieval king Olav Håkonsson, who was born in 1370. This long gap is explained by the fact that, for several centuries, Norway was part of unions—first with Denmark and later with Sweden—in which the kings belonged to dynasties whose centers of power were outside Norway. When Harald was born at Skaugum in 1937, he was therefore the first Norwegian prince in several hundred years to be born on Norwegian soil.
Things got dramatic recently
On August 17, Harald was admitted to Rikshospitalet following a medical examination. He had been treated with cortisone for the blood disorder hemolytic anemia, which had caused fluid retention in his body.
A few days later, his condition worsened further when the king developed a bacterial infection in his blood. On Thursday, the palace announced that his condition was very serious.
Brought royal power to the people
Harald made meeting with ordinary Norwegians a central part of his reign. Despite his advanced age and recurring illness, he traveled throughout the country and, according to VG, managed to visit 353 of Norway’s 357 municipalities.
When NRK asked in 2024 whether the much-discussed scaling back would now become a reality, the king gave a brief response. At the time, he had recently recovered after falling seriously ill during a vacation in Malaysia.
– Not today, "Harald replied and laughed,".
”Everything for Norway” to the end
Harald was Norway’s head of state and commander-in-chief, but well into his later years he continued to travel to small municipalities and meet people where they lived. His motto, like that of his father and grandfather, was ”Alt for Norge” (Everything for Norway).
Shortly before his 87th birthday, Harald explained why he continued to carry out his duties despite his advancing age and recurring health problems.
– I have taken an oath before the Storting, and it lasts for life.
Haakon Ascends to the Throne
Norway is not without a head of state following the death. The moment Harald passed away, the Crown Prince assumed the role Haakon the throne, according to NRK, and the government would then meet with the new monarch at an extraordinary cabinet meeting at the palace.
The name and motto Haakon chooses will be announced after the Cabinet meeting. Norway has thus entered a new chapter in its royal history following Harald’s 35 years on the throne.
REST IN PEACE, King Harald.
Not involved in the Epstein scandal? Too old? Rest in peace, Harald