Norway’s King Harald dies at 89

Norway’s King Harald has died at the age of 89, the royal palace announced on Friday. His son, Crown Prince Haakon, 53, automatically succeeds him on the throne.

“It is with deep sadness that we announce that His Majesty King Harald passed away today. King Harald passed away peacefully at Oslo University Hospital on Friday, 28 August, at 6:35 am (0435 GMT),” the palace said in a statement.

The flag at the royal palace in Oslo was lowered to half-mast.

Europe’s oldest reigning monarch, King Harald, had been in hospital since 17 August suffering from haemolytic anaemia, a condition caused by the rapid destruction of red blood cells. His condition was described as “extremely serious” on Thursday, prompting his family to gather at his bedside.

Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, and their children spent much of Thursday with him.

Members of the public gathered outside the palace, laying flowers and paying tribute.

Kaspara Bolstad, 24, described Harald as “a very steady and warm king,” while Magnus Skaugseth, 27, said he was “inclusive and committed to values that unite society.”

Harald ascended the throne in 1991 and faced several health challenges in recent years, including the fitting of a pacemaker. Despite this, he consistently ruled out abdication, citing his lifelong oath before the Norwegian parliament.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre cancelled a trip to Germany on Thursday due to the king’s deteriorating health.

The Norwegian royal family has faced a turbulent year. In February, Harald was hospitalised in Tenerife for an infection and dehydration. Queen Sonja, also 89, was briefly admitted to hospital in May with heart problems. Crown Princess Mette-Marit underwent a lung transplant in July after battling a serious lung disease.

Despite these challenges, the royal family remains broadly popular, largely due to Harald’s reputation as a unifying figure and his modest lifestyle.

AFP