Norway’s King Harald V dies at 89 and his son becomes king

Norway's King Harald V has passed away at the age of 89 after spending his final moments in a very serious condition at the National Hospital in Oslo, on Friday, August 28, 2026, at 6:35 a.m., according to the royal palace. King Harald V, who reigned during a period of economic prosperity driven by Norway's oil and gas industry, had a unique upbringing; he was born in 1937 in Asker, near Oslo, making him the first Norwegian prince to be born in the country since 1370.

The king's life was marked by significant historical events, including his family's exile in the United States during the Nazi occupation of Norway in World War II. Unlike many of his European counterparts who have recently abdicated, Harald chose not to follow in their footsteps and instead opted to modernize the royal house.

Upon the death of his father, King Olav V, in January 1991, Harald ascended to the throne, becoming Europe's oldest monarch at the time. His son, Haakon VIII, has now inherited the royal title. In Norway, monarchs serve a largely ceremonial role, maintaining a high profile while the country's democracy, with a population of 5.5 million, is governed by an elected parliament.