Norway’s ‘People’s King’ dies: What comes next?

Norway is mourning the death of King Harald V, who passed away on Friday at the age of 89 after more than three decades on the throne.

Norway is mourning the death of King Harald V, who passed away on Friday at the age of 89 after more than three decades on the throne.

The Norwegian royal palace said Harald died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital at 6:35am local time. He had been receiving treatment after being hospitalised earlier this month with a serious illness and a bacterial infection in his blood.

Harald’s death brings an end to a 35-year reign during which he became one of Norway’s most respected and popular public figures. He was widely regarded as a modernising monarch who helped make the royal institution more open, accessible and closely connected with ordinary citizens.

His son, Crown Prince Haakon, immediately became king following his father’s death. Haakon, 53, is expected to formally address the government and parliament as Norway begins the transition to a new reign.

Born on February 21, 1937, Harald was the first Norwegian-born heir to the throne in almost six centuries. His childhood was shaped by the Second World War. When Nazi Germany invaded Norway in 1940, the young prince left the country with his mother and sisters. The family spent time in Sweden before travelling to the United States, where they lived during the war.

Harald returned to Norway after the war and later completed his education and military service. He studied social sciences, history and economics at Oxford University before becoming increasingly involved in royal duties.

One of the defining moments of his personal life came in 1968, when he married Sonja Haraldsen, the daughter of a businessman. The marriage broke with royal tradition because Sonja was a commoner. Harald had reportedly waited years for permission to marry her and eventually made clear that he would rather remain unmarried than give her up.

Queen Sonja remained his partner throughout his nearly six decades of marriage and his entire reign.

Harald became king in January 1991 following the death of his father, King Olav V. Over time, he developed a reputation for showing emotion and speaking openly on issues affecting Norwegian society.

His role as a national unifier became particularly important after the 2011 terrorist attacks in Oslo and on Utøya, in which 77 people were killed. Harald’s public response focused on solidarity, compassion and rejecting fear.

He also became known for advocating tolerance and diversity. In a widely remembered speech in 2016, he emphasised that Norway was home to people of different nationalities, religions and sexual orientations.

Outside his official duties, Harald was a passionate sailor and represented Norway at three Olympic Games. He was also interested in environmental conservation and supported efforts to protect nature.

His later years were marked by repeated health problems. In 2024, he was hospitalised while visiting Malaysia and later received a pacemaker. He subsequently reduced his public engagements but rejected calls for abdication, maintaining that his commitment to the throne was lifelong.

Harald’s death also comes at a difficult time for Norway’s royal family. Crown Princess Mette-Marit has faced scrutiny over her past contacts with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, while her son Marius Borg Høiby was convicted this year of rape and domestic violence. Mette-Marit has also undergone a lung transplant after suffering from a serious pulmonary condition.

Despite the controversies surrounding members of his family, Harald himself retained strong personal popularity among Norwegians.

Tributes have poured in from European leaders and fellow monarchs. Britain’s King Charles III described Harald as a much-loved relative and friend, while Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf remembered him as a close friend of his family and Sweden.