Norwegian Monarch's Death and Succession: King Harald V Passes Away, Crown Prince Haakon T
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King Harald reigned for 35 years and died at the national hospital in Norway's capital where he was being treated for a rare blood condition. His son, King Haakon VIII, became Norway's new monarch on Friday.
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Associated PressOSLO, Norway (AP) — Tens of thousands of mourners paid their respects to Norway’s King Harald V on Saturday, placing flowers and condolence cards outside the royal palace in Oslo a day after the monarch died at 89.
Washington TimesOSLO, Norway — Tens of thousands of mourners paid their respects to Norway’s King Harald V on Saturday, placing flowers and condolence cards outside the royal palace in Oslo a day after the monarch died at 89.
Reuters[1/7]Mourners gather to pay their respects outside the Royal Palace, following the death of Norway's King Harald, in Oslo, Norway, August 28, 2026. NTB/Cornelius Poppe via REUTERS Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
NPR NewsThe palace said he died at the National Hospital in Oslo at 6:35 a.m. Harald was Europe's oldest monarch. The popular king modernized the royal house but refused to follow in the footsteps of other aging monarchs who have abdicated in recent times. His son automatically became King Haakon VIII.
ABC NewsKing Harald V of Norway has died at 89 STAVANGER, Norway -- King Harald V of Norway, who went into exile in the United States as a child during the Nazi occupation of his homeland and refused a string of European noblewomen in order to marry his school sweetheart, has died. He was 89.
Washington PostNorway’s King Harald, who fled Nazis as a child and modernized monarchy, dies at 89 The Norwegian ruler's forbidden love story with a commoner who would become queen sparked a scandal but ultimately endeared him to the public.
PBS NewsHourNorway's crown prince becomes King Haakon VIII after his father's death Crown Prince Haakon, 53, became King Haakon VIII when his father, Harald V, died Friday at 89. Haakon adopted the motto, "All for Norway," that dates back to his great-grandfather.
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He also remarked on the "powerful and moving experience" of seeing thousands of Norwegians gather outside the royal palace in the capital Oslo with "flowers, tributes and candles".
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Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who laid flowers outside the palace and signed a book of condolences after greeting the new king, said the country was "united in grief and gratitude".
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Although Harald remained popular until his death, a poll for newspaper Aftenposten earlier this year suggested that support for the monarchy had dropped from 72% in 2024 to 54%.
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Hours later, the new king met government ministers for an extraordinary council of state meeting, after which the 53-year-old announced he was taking on the royal family's motto "All for Norway".
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The late king was a popular and reforming leader in Norway who modernised the monarchy.
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Britain's King Charles III said he was mourning his "dear cousin". King Harald V was a second cousin of King Charles' mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Haakon VIII is the great-great-great grandson of Queen Victoria.
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He noted that Saturday should have been the celebration of the 58th wedding anniversary of Harald and Queen Sonja, who survives him.
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BBC NewsIn a televised memorial address - one of multiple eulogies by ministers - he said the late king's "legacy lives on" and offered condolences to the royal family and Queen Sonja, who would have celebrated her 58th wedding anniversary with Harald on Saturday.
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Published Oslo's Mayor Anne Lindboe has cancelled her own wedding because of the death of Norway's King Harald V.
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The constitution was changed in 1990 to give women the right to inherit the throne, so Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra is in line to be Norway's first female head of state since the 15th Century.
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Haakon is well acquainted with his royal obligations. As his father aged and his health declined in recent years, he stepped in as the country’s regent on several occasions.
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Associated PressHaakon is well acquainted with his royal obligations. As his father aged and his health declined in recent years, he stepped in as the country’s regent on several occasions.
BBC NewsHaakon assumes his new role at a difficult time, as the royal family has faced health challenges and scandals this year.
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Haakon adopted the motto “All for Norway,” which dates back to his great-grandfather. His wife became Queen Mette-Marit, while his oldest child, Ingrid Alexandra, became crown princess and heir to the throne.
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Associated PressHaakon adopted the motto “All for Norway,” which dates back to his great-grandfather. His wife became Queen Mette-Marit, while his oldest child, Ingrid Alexandra, became crown princess and heir to the throne.
BBC NewsHaakon is a great-great-great-grandson of Britain's Queen Victoria. His daughter Ingrid Alexandra, 22, now becomes the crown princess and heir to the Norwegian throne.
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At around the same time, her eldest son, Marius Borg Høiby, was convicted of rape in a high-profile trial and sentenced to four years in prison. Høiby, Mette-Marit's son from a previous relationship before she met Haakon, has no royal titles or official duties.
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NPR NewsAt around the same time, her eldest son, Marius Borg Høiby, was convicted of rape in a high-profile trial and sentenced to four years in prison. Høiby, Mette-Marit's son from a previous relationship before she met Haakon, has no royal titles or official duties.
BBC NewsBut in recent years it has been beset by scandal. Only this year, Haakon's wife Mette-Marit has apologised for several years of ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and her son has been convicted of rape in a high-profile trial. Marius Borg Høiby, who was born from an earlier relationship, is appealing against the conviction.
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The royal palace said he died at the National Hospital in Oslo on Friday at 6:35 a.m.
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BBC NewsThe palace in Oslo said he passed away peacefully at 06:35 local time (04:35GMT) on Friday at the national hospital. Daniel Sandford takes a look back at his life.
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In 2016, Harald gave an unexpected and impassioned speech in support of LGBTQ+ equality, refugees and religious tolerance, saying “Norwegians are girls who love girls, boys who love boys, and girls and boys who love each other.” He added that many Norwegians have emigrated from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Poland and other countries and that they “believe in God, Allah, the universe and nothing.”
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NPR NewsIn 2016, Harald gave an unexpected and impassioned speech in support of LGBTQ+ equality, refugees and religious tolerance, saying "Norwegians are girls who love girls, boys who love boys, and girls and boys who love each other." He added that many Norwegians have emigrated from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Poland and other countries and that they "believe in God, Allah, the universe and nothing."
ReutersAnother referred to a speech Harald delivered in 2016 that went viral worldwide, in which he said: "Norwegians are girls who love girls, boys who love boys and girls and boys who love each other".
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Recent scandals have put royal family under scrutiny During his reign, the royal family suffered relatively few of the scandals that have plagued their peers in the Swedish and British royal families, though Harald's daughter Märtha Louise gave up royal duties after raising eyebrows by saying she could communicate with angels and becoming engaged to an American man who identifies as a shaman.
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ABC NewsDuring his reign, the royal family suffered relatively few of the scandals that have plagued their peers in the Swedish and British royal families, though Harald's daughter Märtha Louise gave up royal duties after raising eyebrows by saying she could communicate with angels and becoming engaged to an American man who identifies as a shaman.
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01 BBC News "Thank you for being such a good dad," he said in an at-times emotional televised address, seated at a desk in Norway's royal palace, beside a picture of the late king, two lit candles and a bowl of white roses.
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02 Reuters Says will defend Norway's democracy, community and unity PM says new king "creates an atmosphere of togetherness"
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03 Washington Times A sea of colorful flowers covered Slottsplassen, the square in front of the palace, as a steady stream of Norwegians filed past. A palace gardener removed some bouquets on the south side of the palace to keep pathways clear, Norwegian broadcaster NRK reported. Palace workers also collected cards soaked after a nightly downpour and dried them to preserve the mourners’ messages for posterity, NRK reported.
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04 Associated Press A sea of colorful flowers covered Slottsplassen, the square in front of the palace, as a steady stream of Norwegians filed past. A palace gardener removed some bouquets on the south side of the palace to keep pathways clear, Norwegian broadcaster NRK reported. Palace workers also collected cards soaked after a nightly downpour and dried them to preserve the mourners’ messages for posterity, NRK reported.
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05 NPR News Royal family fled Norway during World War II Harald was born in 1937 in Asker, near Oslo, becoming the first Norwegian prince to be born in the country since King Olav IV in 1370. In the following centuries, Norway didn't have a king of its own until Harald's grandfather, Haakon VII, was elected king following the 1905 dissolution of the union between Sweden and Norway.
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06 ABC News Harald was born in 1937 in Asker, near Oslo, becoming the first Norwegian prince to be born in the country since King Olav IV in 1370. In the following centuries, Norway didn't have a king of its own until Harald's grandfather, Haakon VII, was elected king following the 1905 dissolution of the union between Sweden and Norway.
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