Norway’s King Harald V has died aged 89, after more than three decades as monarch, with his son, Crown Prince Haakon, succeeding him.
The Royal Palace in Oslo announced on Friday that Harald died peacefully at 6:35am local time at the national hospital, where he had been receiving medical treatment.
The monarch’s death followed a recent deterioration in his health. He was admitted to hospital on August 17 after being treated for haemolytic anaemia, a rare condition that causes a reduction in red blood cells.
Following the announcement, the Norwegian royal flag was lowered to half-mast, while members of the public gathered outside the palace to pay their respects and lay flowers in memory of the late monarch.
Harald ascended the Norwegian throne in January 1991 after the death of his father, King Olav V. His 35-year reign was characterised by a gradual transformation of the monarchy and a more informal relationship with the Norwegian people.
One of his most significant breaks with royal tradition came in 1968 when, as crown prince, he married Sonja Haraldsen, the daughter of a businessman. The marriage followed years of resistance to the union because Sonja was not from a royal family.
The late king also earned widespread respect for his response to national tragedies. After the 2011 attacks in Oslo and Utøya, in which 77 people were killed, Harald used his public addresses to call for unity and urged Norwegians not to surrender to fear.
His public profile extended beyond ceremonial duties. An accomplished sailor, Harald represented Norway at three Olympic Games and remained closely associated with sport and environmental causes throughout his life.
He was also known for his advocacy of a diverse and inclusive Norway. In a widely praised speech in 2016, the king emphasised that the country was home to people of different nationalities, faiths, backgrounds and sexual orientations.
In recent years, however, the royal household came under increasing public scrutiny over health concerns and controversies involving members of the family. Harald himself had gradually reduced his official engagements as his health weakened.
He is survived by Queen Sonja, whom he married nearly six decades ago, their daughter Princess Märtha Louise, his successor King Haakon, and six grandchildren.
With Haakon now taking over the throne, Norway’s new monarch faces the task of steering the royal institution through a period of heightened public scrutiny while preserving the popularity and public trust built during his father’s long reign.
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