King Harald V of Norway has died at the age of 89 after a long illness, the Norwegian Royal Family has announced. He was the oldest reigning monarch in Europe and succeeded to the throne in 1991 following the death of his father, King Olav V.
His son has succeeded him as King Haakon VIII, with his wife becoming Queen Mette-Marit. The new heir to the throne is 22-year-old Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, who will one day become Norway's first Queen Regnant after changes to absolute primogeniture rules allowed female royals in the line of succession to rule.
Death announced by Royal Court
The Norwegian Royal Court said the King passed away at Rikshospitalet in Oslo. 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 late monarch had suffered from ill-health since 2003 and was first admitted to hospital after doctors became concerned about side effects from his treatment for haemolytic anaemia. He was receiving treatment for this condition, which then saw him develop fluid retention. As a result, he required further hospital treatment.
Health deterioration in final days
It emerged on Sunday that the royal had seen a deterioration in his health after developing a bacterial infection in his blood. The Palace confirmed that the King was on antibiotics for this and was responding to treatment. However, the "stable" condition he was in just a few days ago quickly changed when the Norwegian Royal Court announced on Thursday morning that the monarch's condition was "very serious."
King Harald was visited at Rikshospitalet hospital several times in recent days by his son and daughter-in-law, the former Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit. On Thursday morning, King Harald's wife, Queen Sonja, was pictured arriving with the late King's elder sister, Princess Astrid, the Crown Prince and Princess and their children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus. The King's daughter, Princess Martha Louise, was also present at her father's bedside, her agent confirmed.
His step-grandson, Marius Borg Hoiby, who has been released from jail under house arrest after being charged with four counts of rape, was also seen visiting the hospital in a prison van. It was reported he was wearing an ankle monitor.
Difficult year for the royal family
The former King's death comes days after the new King and Queen celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. It has been a difficult year for the Norwegian Royal Family as Mette-Marit has faced her own health scares this year when her chronic pulmonary fibrosis reached a life-threatening stage. She received a lung transplant earlier this year, which she is still recovering from.
As well as seeing her son charged with rape, she also found herself embroiled in the Epstein Files scandal when emails she sent to the convicted sex offender were included in the avalanche of documents released by the US Department of Justice.
Shortly before the monarch's death was announced, a cherry picker could be seen putting black banners up at The Royal Palace in Oslo as crowds of mourners began to gather and lay flowers on the ground outside. Crowds stood and watched as each branch of the Norwegian military, as well as horses and musicians, marched around outside the Palace.
Life and legacy
King Harald was born on February 21, 1937, during the reign of his grandfather, King Haakon VII. He was the first Norwegian-born monarch to inherit the throne since Olav IV over 600 years ago in 1380.
Harald married Sonja Haraldsen in 1968. As she was a commoner, Harald's father was reluctant to allow the marriage to take place; however, he told him that if he couldn't marry Sonja, he wouldn't marry at all, which would have ended the reign of his family and the Norwegian monarchy.
The couple had two children, Princess Märtha Louise and King Haakon VIII. He was the grandfather of the future Queen, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, and of Prince Sverre Magnus and Martha Louise's children, Maud, Leah and Emma Behn. It has not yet been confirmed when his funeral will take place, although several Norwegian monarchs have been buried in the Royal Mausoleum in Oslo.
