The Norwegian royal family announced on their website that King Harald V passed away at the age of 89 on Friday, August 28th. He was the oldest reigning monarch in Europe before his passing. The King had been hospitalized for a blood disorder since August 17th. The royal family stated that he was being treated for haemolytic anaemia.
The official statement on the Norwegian royal family’s website read: “King Harald passed away peacefully at Oslo University Hospital at 6:35 am on Friday, August 28th, local time.”
Members of the royal family had visited the hospital to pay their respects to the King the day before his passing, and the public also gathered at the palace to lay flowers in his memory.
Following King Harald V’s hospitalization on August 17th, Crown Prince Haakon assumed the role of regent. Haakon has since ascended to the throne with the title of King Haakon VIII.
King Harald V, a descendant of Queen Victoria of Britain, was the first monarch born in Norway since the 14th century. He ascended to the throne in 1991 and reigned for 35 years, earning the affection of the people. He modernized the monarchy and broke tradition by marrying a commoner, playing a unifying role during challenging times in Norway.
Similar to his father, Olav, King Harald was a sports and car enthusiast, often driving himself, especially during informal events.
As a sailing enthusiast, he led a fleet to win the World Sailboat Championship and participated in several Olympic Games, although he did not achieve the same feat as his father, who won a gold medal in sailing at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics.
In recent years, King Harald had been hospitalized multiple times due to health issues. In 2024, he had a pacemaker installed and reduced his official engagements. However, he had made it clear that he would not abdicate, declaring his lifelong loyalty to Norway in front of the Norwegian parliament.