King Harald Has Died
Photo: Jørgen Gomnæs, The Royal Court
His Majesty King Harald V has died at the age of 89. He was Norway's king for more than 35 years, and will be remembered as the people's king. Crown Prince Haakon is Norway's new king.
His Majesty King Harald V has died at the age of 89. The King passed away peacefully at Rikshospitalet on Friday, August 28, at 6.35 am.
"It is with deep sorrow that we announce that His Majesty King Harald passed away today," the Royal Palace wrote in its announcement.
King Harald V was Norway's king from 1991 to 2026. Photo: Jørgen Gomnæs, The Royal Court
With King Harald's passing, Norway loses a king who for more than 35 years united the country in sorrow and in joy, and who with his warmth, humour and unwavering sense of duty became the whole people's king. His motto was the same as his father's and grandfather's: Alt for Norge, everything for Norway. Few have lived up to it as he did.
Harald was born at Skaugum on February 21, 1937, the third child and only son of Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Märtha. He was the first Norwegian-born prince in 567 years. When war came to Norway in April 1940, three-year-old Harald had to flee with his mother and sisters Ragnhild and Astrid, first to Sweden, then to the United States, where the family spent the war years. The sight of the little prince returning to a free Norway in June 1945 became one of the defining images of the post-war era.
Harald became crown prince in 1957, when his father ascended the throne as King Olav V. After school and the Military Academy, he studied at Balliol College, Oxford. His love of the sea followed him all his life: he represented Norway in sailing at three Olympic Games, in Tokyo in 1964, where he carried the Norwegian flag at the opening ceremony, in Mexico in 1968 and in Munich in 1972, and he became world champion in 1987.
The King and Queen were faithful supporters of Norwegian sport to the end, here at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. Photo: NTB
It was also love that gave Norway one of its most beautiful royal chapters. For nine years, Crown Prince Harald quietly held on to his Sonja Haraldsen, a merchant's daughter from Oslo and a commoner, against all convention. In the end he made it clear to his father that it was Sonja or no one. On August 29, 1968, they married in Oslo Cathedral, and with that, Harald opened the Norwegian monarchy to a new era. Together they had two children, Märtha Louise in 1971 and Haakon in 1973.
King Harald and Queen Sonja were married for nearly 58 years. Photo: NTB
When King Olav died on January 17, 1991, Harald ascended the throne as King of Norway. He was consecrated in Nidaros Cathedral on June 23 the same year. As king he led the country through celebration and through its darkest hours: he opened the Lillehammer Olympics in 1994, and he carried the nation's grief after the terror attacks of July 22, 2011, with a dignity that made an impression far beyond Norway's borders.
What made King Harald unique, though, was the way he met people. He had an unpretentious manner that made people feel at ease in his presence, and a wonderful sense of humour. He was called the grandfather of the whole nation, and he was a unifying monarch, held in affection by everyone regardless of political or religious conviction.
He was beloved not least for his ability to embrace everyone. His words from the garden party in the Palace Park in 2016 will forever stand as his legacy: "Norwegians are girls who love girls, boys who love boys, and girls and boys who love each other. Norwegians believe in God, Allah, the Universe and nothing."
As king he set himself the goal of visiting every municipality in Norway, and he very nearly made it: only four municipalities remained when he died.
The King faced several health challenges in his final decades, with cancer treatment in 2003, heart surgery and a pacemaker in 2024, without letting it slow down an exceptionally long working life in the service of his people. In August 2026 he was admitted to Rikshospitalet after several weeks of treatment for haemolytic anaemia, and he also developed a bacterial infection in his blood. On Thursday the Palace announced that his condition was very serious, and the royal family gathered at his side.
At the moment of King Harald's passing, Crown Prince Haakon became King of Norway, in accordance with the Constitution. His first duty is to swear the constitutional oath before the Council of State. Crown Princess Mette-Marit becomes queen, and Princess Ingrid Alexandra becomes crown princess, the first female heir to the throne in Norway's history.
King Harald is survived by Queen Sonja, King Haakon and Princess Märtha Louise, five grandchildren and a nation in deep gratitude.
RoyMob will follow the accession and the period of mourning in the days to come.