Norway’s King Harald dies aged 89

Norway's King Harald V has passed away at the age of 89 after being hospitalized for a rare blood condition. He died peacefully at the national hospital in Oslo on Friday at 06:35 local time. The royal flag on the palace roof has been lowered to half-mast. King Harald was the first king born in Norway since the 14th century and was succeeded by his son, King Haakon.

Throughout his 35-year reign, he was known for modernizing the monarchy, breaking tradition by marrying a commoner, and serving as a unifying figure during the country's most difficult moments. He was described as a beloved and down-to-earth figure, referred to as the "People's king" by his father King Olav V. In the aftermath of the 2011 bomb and gun attacks on Oslo and Utøya, Harald appealed for unity among Norwegians, urging them not to let fear take over.