Norway’s King Harald dies at 89

Norway's King Harald has died at the age of 89. The palace announced that he passed away peacefully at Oslo University Hospital on Friday, August 28, at 6:35 am. According to Khaosod English, he died at the National Hospital in Oslo.

King Harald had reigned since 1991 and was Europe's oldest monarch. He was succeeded automatically by his son, Crown Prince Haakon, who becomes King Haakon VIII, along with his wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, as queen consort, as reported by Free Malaysia Today and Politico EU.

The Norwegian people have expressed deep sorrow and gratitude for King Harald's life and service. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said in a statement that "a whole nation is in mourning" and that King Harald "demonstrated an unwavering faith in the Norwegian people" during his more than three decades as monarch, as reported by Khaosod English and Free Malaysia Today.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch, Punch Nigeria, Khaosod English, Free Malaysia Today, Politico EU — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.