Norway’s King Harald V has died at the age of 89, bringing an end to his 35 year reign over the Scandinavian kingdom.
The Norwegian Royal Palace announced that the monarch died peacefully at 6:35am local time on Friday at the National Hospital in Oslo, where he had been receiving treatment for a rare blood disorder.
Following his death, the royal flag at the palace was lowered to half mast as mourners gathered to pay their respects and lay flowers.
Harald, who became king in 1991 following the death of his father, King Olav V, was Norway’s first monarch born in the country since the 14th century.
He has been succeeded by his son, Crown Prince Haakon, who now becomes King Haakon.
During his three and a half decades on the throne, Harald earned a reputation as a popular and approachable monarch who helped modernise the Norwegian royal institution.
His decision to marry Sonja Haraldsen, a commoner, in 1968 was regarded as a major break from royal tradition.
The couple remained married for nearly 58 years and had two children, Princess Märtha Louise and Haakon.
Royal observers described Harald as a monarch who maintained a close relationship with ordinary Norwegians, with some referring to him as the “People’s King.”
His reign also included some of Norway’s most difficult moments.
Following the 2011 terrorist attacks in Oslo and Utøya, which claimed 77 lives, Harald delivered emotional messages calling on Norwegians to stand together and reject fear.
He later became known for advocating diversity and inclusion, including through a widely praised speech in 2016 in which he spoke in support of people from different ethnic, religious and social backgrounds.
Beyond his royal duties, Harald was a passionate sportsman and environmentalist. He represented Norway in sailing at three Olympic Games and remained involved in the sport for much of his life.
The king’s health had deteriorated in recent years, leading to a reduction in his public engagements.
He was hospitalised on August 17 after suffering complications linked to a rare blood condition, with Haakon assuming his responsibilities as regent.
Harald’s final years were also marked by controversies involving members of the royal family, but royal commentators noted that public criticism was generally not directed at the king himself.
He is survived by Queen Sonja, their two children and six grandchildren.
As Norway begins the mourning process, attention will turn to the new monarch, Haakon, who assumes the throne at a challenging time for the royal family and the institution he now leads.