King Harald V of Norway Dies at 89
King Harald V of Norway died peacefully on Friday morning at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet. He was 89 and had been Europe’s oldest reigning monarch.
The Royal House said the king, hospitalised since 17 August with complications from haemolytic anaemia, later developed a bacterial blood infection. His condition was described as extremely serious the day before he died. Family members, including his son and successor, kept vigil at his bedside. He died at 6:35 a.m. on 28 August.
Harald’s 35-year reign began on 17 January 1991 after the death of his father, King Olav V. He was the first king born on Norwegian soil in more than five centuries.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre addressed the nation: “An era has ended. A new era is beginning. The King is dead. Long live The King!” Flags were lowered to half-mast and a period of national mourning was declared until after the funeral.
Crown Prince Haakon, 53, became King Haakon VIII immediately under the constitution. At an extraordinary Council of State at the Royal Palace later that morning he formally notified the government, chose the regnal name Haakon VIII and retained the motto “Alt for Norge” (“All for Norway”). His eldest child, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 22, is now Crown Princess and heir apparent — the first woman in line to the Norwegian throne since the Middle Ages. Queen Sonja, Harald’s wife of nearly 58 years, survives him.
Born on 21 February 1937 at Skaugum, Harald fled with his family to the United States after the 1940 Nazi invasion and returned in 1945. He attended state schools, studied at Oxford and represented Norway in sailing at three Olympic Games. In 1968 he married Sonja Haraldsen, a commoner, after a long courtship, breaking royal precedent. Both of their children later married commoners. That choice is widely credited with helping the monarchy remain accepted in an egalitarian society.
His public style was understated. After the 22 July 2011 attacks that killed 77 people, he spoke for a shocked nation with simple, unifying words. In recent years he received a pacemaker and faced family strain, including public scrutiny of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and the conviction of her son Marius Borg Høiby.
On Friday afternoon a hearse carried the coffin through Oslo streets lined by an estimated 10,000 people. Flowers and notes accumulated outside the Royal Palace. The coffin was to lie in the palace chapel for public respects. A 21-gun salute was fired from Akershus Fortress. Norwegian law requires burial within ten days; a state funeral at Oslo Cathedral and burial at Akershus Fortress are expected.
Harald V leaves a more accessible monarchy than the one he inherited. The new king’s first public duty was the announcement of his father’s death.
