Norway has entered a period of national mourning following the death of King Harald V at the age of 89, bringing his 35-year reign to an end and placing his son Haakon on the throne.
The Norwegian Royal Court announced that Harald died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet at 06:35 local time on Friday, 28 August.
He had been admitted to hospital earlier in August and was being treated for a rare blood condition. His health had deteriorated in the days before his death, with the Royal Court announcing on Thursday that his condition was very serious.
Members of the royal family had visited the king during his final 24 hours, while members of the public gathered outside the Royal Palace in Oslo to lay flowers.
Norway enters national mourning
A period of national mourning has been declared from Friday until the day of King Harald’s funeral, the date of which has yet to be announced.
Flags are being flown at half-mast at royal residences, government buildings and military sites.
Professional activities and events can continue, but organisers have been asked to ensure they take place in a dignified manner. The king’s death may be marked with a period of silence, portraits and candles, while non-work-related social events are to be cancelled or postponed.
The Royal Court’s website was also changed following the announcement, displaying a black banner and an image of the late king in tribute.
Haakon becomes Norway’s new king
Harald has been succeeded by his 53-year-old son, King Haakon.
Five hours after his father’s death, the new king appeared at the Royal Palace in black military uniform for an extraordinary meeting of the Council of State.
He was joined by his 22-year-old daughter, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, who is now heir to the Norwegian throne.
Under Norway’s succession rules, the eldest child takes precedence regardless of gender for those born after the constitutional change introduced in 1990.
Members of the public gathered outside the palace as the meeting took place, while a royal flag was raised from the balcony.
King Charles mourns his ‘dear cousin’
Tributes have begun arriving from abroad, with Britain’s King Charles III offering his “most heartfelt condolences” following the death of his “dear cousin”.
In a statement issued with Queen Camilla, Charles said King Harald had served Norway for 35 years with “unwavering dedication”, guiding the country through considerable change with warmth and humility.
He also remembered Harald as a much-loved relative and friend whose kindness, compassion and sense of duty had endured across the decades.
Charles extended his condolences to Queen Sonja, who had been due to celebrate her 58th wedding anniversary with Harald on Saturday.
A king who helped modernise the monarchy
King Harald V ascended the throne on 17 January 1991 following the death of his father, King Olav V. He adopted the royal motto “We give our all for Norway”.
Harald was the first Norwegian-born king since the 14th century and became a popular figure during his decades as head of state.
His relationship with Queen Sonja also marked a significant break with royal convention.
The couple met when they were young, but Sonja Haraldsen was a commoner and their relationship was initially considered unsuitable for the future king. They eventually married in 1968 and had two children, Princess Märtha Louise and Haakon.
When Harald became king in 1991, Sonja became Norway’s first queen in 53 years.
Throughout his reign, Harald carried out the constitutional and ceremonial duties of Norway’s monarch, including presiding over the Council of State, formally opening parliament and representing the country abroad.
He also became closely associated with moments of both national celebration and grief, including Norway’s response to the 2011 terrorist attacks.
King Harald V is survived by Queen Sonja, Princess Märtha Louise, King Haakon and six grandchildren.
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