Norway’s King Harald dies aged 89
The monarch's 53-year-old son, Crown Prince Haakon, automatically takes the throne following his father's death after 35 years as king.
Norway's King Harald has passed away at the age of 89, the palace announced on Friday. His 53-year-old son, Crown Prince Haakon, will now succeed him to the throne. King Harald peacefully passed away at Oslo University Hospital on Friday morning, August 28, at 6:35am, according to the palace statement. The flag at the royal palace in Oslo was lowered to half-mast, and hundreds of people gathered outside to mourn the loss of the country's monarch.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store expressed deep sorrow over the news, stating that the entire nation mourns while remaining deeply grateful for King Harald's long life devoted to Norway. The government will convene a conference to meet the new king, Haakon, at the palace shortly after the announcement.
King Harald, Europe's oldest reigning monarch, had been in the hospital since August 17 suffering from haemolytic anaemia, a condition caused by the rapid destruction of red blood cells, leading to fatigue and shortness of breath. Despite multiple health problems in recent years, including the need for a pacemaker and a scaled-down official schedule, Harald always ruled out abdicating his throne, as he had taken a lifelong oath before the Norwegian parliament.
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