Newcastle City Council has paid tribute to King Harald V of Norway following his death on Friday at the age of 89, after 35 years on the throne.
The local authority said the King's connection to Newcastle spanned decades, highlighting visits in 1968 and 2008 that marked his enduring association with the city.
A long-standing relationship with Newcastle
In 1968, as Crown Prince, King Harald visited Newcastle alongside his father, King Olav V, for the official opening of the Civic Centre. During that visit, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Newcastle University, beginning a lifelong association with the city.
Forty years later, in 2008, King Harald returned to Newcastle to receive the Honorary Freedom of the City, the highest honour Newcastle City Council can give. The award recognised the strong historic, cultural and economic ties between Newcastle and Norway.
Council's tribute on social media
During the 2008 visit, the King signed the civic honours register alongside his father's name and celebrated the close maritime and cultural links that continue to connect the communities.
In a tribute posted on social media on Friday, the council said they were "saddened" to hear about his death. They said: "Today our thoughts are with the Norwegian Royal Family and the people of Norway as they mourn the loss of their monarch. We will remember King Harald and his friendship for our city with great affection."
