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Norway's King Harald V Dies at 89; Succession of Crown Prince Haakon

Norway's long-reigning King Harald V has passed away at 89, with Crown Prince Haakon set to succeed him.

28 August 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Norway's King Harald V Dies at 89; Succession of Crown Prince Haakon — Photo: Estonian Foreign Ministry · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Norway’s King Harald V has died at the age of 89, as announced by the Norwegian royal palace. His death occurred on Friday, August 25, at 6:35 AM local time at Oslo University Hospital, where he had been undergoing treatment since August 17 for a blood-related illness.

King Harald, who reigned for 35 years, had served as Norway’s ceremonial head of state since 1991. According to reports, he had consistently maintained that he would not abdicate, stating that his oath as king was for life.

The announcement of the king's passing was made with deep sadness by the royal palace, which noted that King Harald passed away peacefully. Following this, the flag at the royal palace in Oslo was lowered to half-mast in his honor.

Archive photo: Norway's King Harald V Dies at 89; Succession of Crown Prince Haakon — Archive photoPhoto: Lorédan Larchey (1831–1902) · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

In the wake of his death, Crown Prince Haakon, aged 53, is set to automatically succeed his father on the throne. Crowds gathered outside the royal palace in Oslo following the announcement, with many Norwegians expressing their sorrow and paying their respects.

Political leaders also altered their schedules to return to the capital, showing their support to the royal family during this time. Harald V was recognized as Europe's oldest reigning monarch at the time of his death.

Recent issues surrounding the royal family, particularly concerning Crown Princess Mette-Marit's past associations, had stirred controversy; however, the royal palace's focus remained on honoring King Harald’s legacy. His reign witnessed various changes and developments in Norway, marking an era that will be remembered by many.

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