Norway’s King Harald V has died at the age of 89, the royal palace in Oslo announced on Friday morning. He passed away peacefully at the national hospital in Oslo, where he had been receiving treatment for haemolytic anaemia. The royal flag on the palace roof was lowered to half-mast. He is succeeded by his son, now King Haakon.
In the 24 hours before his death, members of the royal family had gathered at his bedside. Crowds laid flowers outside the palace.
Harald had reigned since January 17, 1991, when he ascended the throne following the death of his father, King Olav V. He was Norway’s first king born in Norway since the 14th century. Over 35 years on the throne, he was widely regarded as one of the most beloved monarchs in Europe, earning the title the “People’s King,” a description his father had also carried.
His Reign
His reign was defined by a deliberate effort to humanise and modernise the Norwegian monarchy. He broke with royal tradition by marrying Sonja Haraldsen, the daughter of a businessman, after waiting nine years for his father’s consent. That choice opened the door for his own children to also marry commoners. He was a keen sailor who represented Norway three times at the Olympics. He was also an environmentalist who helped found and led the Norwegian branch of WWF for two decades, and a man described by those who observed him closely as never afraid to show emotion, humour, or vulnerability.
His greatest moment as a king came in the aftermath of the July 2011 terrorist attacks, when neo-Nazi Anders Breivik killed 77 people in Oslo and on the island of Utøya. Harald gave a televised address the following day. Weeks later he delivered a speech that moved the nation. His voice broke as he spoke.
“I can only imagine the depth of your pain. As King of this nation, I feel for each and every one of you,” he said.
Historian Ole-Jørgen Schulsrud-Hansen later said: “I think that moment has been burned into our minds of what a monarchy should be.”
In 2016 he made headlines with an impassioned speech celebrating diversity of religion, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Also saying Norwegians came from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Poland, believed in God, Allah, the Universe and nothing, and included girls who love girls, boys who love boys, and girls and boys who love each other.
Recent Health Challenges
His final years brought health difficulties and family turbulence. He permanently reduced his public engagements in April 2024. He was treated with cortisone for haemolytic anaemia before being hospitalised on August 17.
His son Haakon took over as regent at that point. Harald is survived by Queen Sonja, his wife of nearly 58 years, their daughter Princess Märtha Louise, the new King Haakon, and six grandchildren.
May the soul of the People’s King rest in peace 🕊️
