Norway’s King Harald V has died at 89, the royal palace announced on Friday.
Harald became king in 1991 after the death of his father, King Olav V, and reigned for 35 years, making him Europe’s oldest monarch. He remained committed to the throne despite recent abdications by other European monarchs.
Born in 1937, Harald spent part of his childhood in exile in the United States after Nazi Germany occupied Norway in 1940. His family returned to Norway in 1945 after the end of World War II.
During his reign, Harald worked to modernise the monarchy while maintaining its largely symbolic role in Norwegian democracy. He became particularly known for promoting national unity and tolerance.
After the 2011 attacks by far-right terrorist Anders Behring Breivik, Harald delivered a widely praised speech defending freedom.
Harald also faced health problems in his final years, including hospitalisations abroad and the fitting of a pacemaker in 2024.
Crown Prince Haakon, Harald’s only son, is the sole successor to the Norwegian throne.
