The King has issued a statement following the passing of his "dear cousin" King Harald V of Norway, who has died aged 89. Harald, who was Charles's second cousin once removed, passed away on Friday morning (28 August). His son, King Haakon VIII, has automatically become his successor.
Royal family ties
King Harald was related to Charles through King Edward VII's daughter, Princess Maud of Wales. Princess Maud was King Charles's great-great-aunt and King Harald's grandmother after she married and became the Queen of Norway.
In a tribute penned by King Charles and released by Buckingham Palace, the head of the British royal family said: "It is with the most profound sadness that my wife and I have learned of the death of my dear cousin, King Harald V of Norway."
Tribute to a 'much-loved' king
"For 35 years, King Harald served his people with unwavering dedication, guiding Norway through times of great change with warmth and humility."
"As Norway mourns the loss of so towering a figure, my whole family join in remembering a much-loved kinsman and friend whose kindness, compassion and deep sense of duty echoed from across the sea and across the decades."
The King went on: "The United Kingdom and Norway share particularly close historical and family ties, with Britain one of the first countries to recognise Norwegian independence and establish diplomatic relations in 1905."
Condolences to the royal family
"These special bonds were even further strengthened during the dreadful trials of the Second World War and helped to bind our two countries together."
He added: "The Queen and I extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Queen Sonja and all her family, as Britain shares in Norway's grief at this time of such heartbreaking loss." The message is signed off with Charles R.
The Norwegian Royal House shared the news that King Harald had passed away in the early hours of Friday morning. A statement read: "It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of His Majesty King Harald today. King Harald passed away peacefully at the National Hospital on Friday, August 28, at 6.35am."
The King succeeded to the throne in 1991 following the death of his father, King Olav V, and was the oldest reigning monarch in Europe. The new heir to the throne is 22-year-old Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, who will one day be Norway's first Queen Regnant after absolute primogeniture rules changed to allow female royals in the line of succession to rule.
