Norway’s King Harald has died at the age of 89, the royal palace said on Friday, with his 53-year-old son, Crown Prince Haakon, set to succeed 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, August 28, at 6:35 am,” the palace said in a statement.
The flag at the Royal Palace in Oslo was lowered to half-mast following the announcement.
Europe’s oldest reigning monarch, Harald had been in hospital in Oslo since August 17 after suffering from haemolytic anaemia, a condition caused by the abnormal destruction of red blood cells that can lead to fatigue and shortness of breath.
The royal family rushed to his bedside on Thursday after the palace announced that the King’s condition was “extremely serious”.
His wife, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon, Haakon’s wife Mette-Marit and their adult children spent much of Thursday at the hospital, with Norwegian media reporting that Haakon remained at his father’s bedside overnight.
Members of the public gathered outside the palace in central Oslo for a second consecutive day on Friday, laying flowers and standing in groups to mourn the King.
Kaspara Bolstad, 24, described Harald as “a very steady and warm king”.
“I think the entire Norwegian people see him as a role model and as someone who brings people together. Whether you’re for or against the monarchy, I think he’s well-liked across the board,” she said.
Magnus Skaugseth, 27, agreed.
“He was so inclusive and committed to having values that are inclusive in the society we live in today. When there is so much division and polarisation, he was a pillar pointing in the opposite direction,” Skaugseth said.
Harald ascended the Norwegian throne in 1991 following the death of his father, King Olav V. He had suffered several health problems in recent years, including infections that forced him to spend periods in hospital.
A pacemaker was fitted after his heart rate became too slow, while his health problems also led him to reduce his official duties.
Despite his declining health, Harald repeatedly ruled out abdicating, saying he had taken a lifelong oath before the Norwegian parliament.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store cancelled a planned work trip to Germany early Thursday as the King’s condition deteriorated.
The past year has been particularly difficult for the Norwegian royal family.
In February, Harald was hospitalised with an infection and dehydration while on a private trip to Tenerife with Queen Sonja.
His wife, also 89, was briefly admitted to hospital in May because of heart problems.
Mette-Marit has also faced health and personal challenges. She suffers from a serious lung disease and underwent a lung transplant in July.
Her son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby, has been at the centre of legal troubles. He was sentenced in June to four years in prison for two rapes and 32 other charges, including violence against a former partner. He has appealed the verdict.
Mette-Marit has also faced scrutiny over her ties to the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Despite the controversies surrounding members of the royal family, the Norwegian monarchy remains broadly popular with the public, with Harald’s unifying role and modest lifestyle contributing to his popularity.
Harald’s death brings an end to a 35-year reign and marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Norwegian monarchy, with Crown Prince Haakon preparing to take over the responsibilities held by his father since 1991.
