King Harald V of Norway dies aged 89 after 35 years on the throne

Norway’s King Harald has died at the age of 89 after more than 35 years on the throne, the Royal Palace has said.

The monarch, who had been on sick leave for several weeks, was admitted to Oslo National Hospital a week ago, with his health drastically deteriorating over the weekend.

His wife, Queen Sonja, and son, Crown Prince Haakon, had called off all royal engagements to gather at his bedside before his death on Thursday.

The king was receiving antibiotics for a bacterial blood infection and had responded to treatment, the palace said late Sunday, adding that his condition was stable.

The king suffered from numerous health issues in recent years, and was eventually fitted with a permanent pacemaker.

While refusing to abdicate, Harald was forced to make “permanent reduction” to his public engagements “out of consideration for his age” in April 2024.

He was hospitalised with an infection and dehydration in February this year during a holiday with Queen Sonja in Tenerife.

Harald became Europe’s oldest reigning monarch after the death of Queen Elizabeth. He leaves behind his wife, two children, Princess Märtha Louise and Crown Prince Haakon, and five grandchildren.

Crown Prince Haakon, 53, is the successor to the throne and has been serving as regent for his father.

King Harald was a second cousin to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, sharing the same great-grandparents in King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, who were the father and mother of Norway’s Queen Maud.

He was born in Skaugum, Norway in 1937 and spent the first three years of his life, as prince, in peaceful surroundings with his sisters until the German invasion in April 1940, according to the royal biography.