Norway’s Royal Palace announced on Friday, 28 August, the death of King Harald V at the age of 89, after his health deteriorated in recent days. The throne passes to his eldest son, Crown Prince Haakon, first in line under the country’s succession system.
The palace said the king died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital at 6:35 a.m., after being admitted on 17 August for treatment of a bacterial blood infection.
Deteriorating health
On 23 August, the palace said Harald’s condition had deteriorated over the weekend and that he was receiving antibiotics, before describing his condition on Thursday as “very serious.”
The king’s condition is “very serious.”
Before the death was announced, hundreds of Norwegians gathered outside the Royal Palace in Oslo with flowers and candles as concerns about the king’s health grew. Norwegian institutions and media outlets also altered their programming to follow developments in his condition.
Throne passes to Crown Prince Haakon
The Norwegian throne passes to Crown Prince Haakon following the death of Harald V. Haakon served as regent during periods when his father was ill and unable to carry out his responsibilities.
More than 35 years on the throne
Harald V ascended the throne on 17 January 1991, following the death of his father, King Olav V. His official constitutional duties included chairing meetings of the Council of State and formally opening the Norwegian parliament.
Harald was born on 21 February 1937 and was Europe’s oldest monarch in recent years. In 2024, he announced that he would reduce his participation in official activities because of his advancing age, but ruled out abdication, saying the oath he took upon ascending the throne represented a lifelong commitment.
The king suffered recurrent health problems in recent years, including respiratory infections. He also underwent heart surgery and was forced on several occasions to suspend his official activities because of illness.
