Norway’s King Harald has died at the age of 89, the royal palace announced on Friday, with his 53-year-old son, Crown Prince Haakon, succeeding him on the throne.
Gatekeepers News reports that the palace said Harald died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital at 6:35 a.m. on Friday, August 28.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce that His Majesty King Harald passed away today. King Harald passed away peacefully at Oslo University Hospital on Friday, August 28 at 6:35 am,” the palace said in a statement.
Following the announcement, the Norwegian flag at the royal palace in Oslo was lowered to half-mast.
Harald, Europe’s oldest reigning monarch, had been hospitalised in Oslo since August 17 after suffering from haemolytic anaemia, a condition caused by the rapid destruction of red blood cells that can result in fatigue and shortness of breath.
His condition deteriorated on Thursday, prompting members of the royal family to rush to his bedside after the palace said it was “extremely serious.”
His wife, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon, Haakon’s wife, Mette-Marit, and their adult children spent much of Thursday at the hospital. Norwegian media reported that Haakon remained at his father’s bedside overnight.
Members of the public gathered outside the royal palace in central Oslo for a second consecutive day on Friday to pay tribute to the late monarch, laying flowers and gathering in small groups.
Kaspara Bolstad, 24, described Harald as “a very steady and warm king.”
“I think the entire Norwegian people see him as a role model and as someone who brings people together. Whether you’re for or against the monarchy, I think he’s well-liked across the board,” she said.
Magnus Skaugseth, 27, also praised the late monarch’s inclusive approach.
“He was so inclusive and committed to having values that are inclusive in the society we live in today. When there is so much division and polarisation, he was a pillar pointing in the opposite direction,” Skaugseth said.
Harald ascended the Norwegian throne in 1991 and had experienced several health problems in recent years, including the fitting of a pacemaker and a reduction in his official duties.
Despite his health challenges, he repeatedly ruled out abdicating, saying he had taken a lifelong oath before the Norwegian Parliament.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store cancelled a planned work trip to Germany early Thursday following news of the king’s deteriorating condition.
Turbulent year for royal family
Harald’s death comes after a difficult year for the Norwegian royal family.
In February, the king was hospitalised in Tenerife with an infection and dehydration while on a private trip with Queen Sonja.
Queen Sonja, also 89, was briefly hospitalised in May over heart problems.
Meanwhile, Crown Princess Mette-Marit has faced scrutiny over her ties to the late American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Her son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby, has also attracted attention over legal troubles. He was sentenced in June to four years in prison after being convicted of two rapes and 32 other charges, including violence against a former partner. He has appealed the verdict.
Mette-Marit, 53, who suffers from a serious lung disease, underwent a lung transplant in July.
Despite the controversies surrounding the royal family, the Norwegian monarchy remains broadly popular, with Harald’s unifying role and modest lifestyle contributing significantly to his standing among the public.
