King Harald of Norway dies at the age of 89 after three decades on the throne
King Charles has extended his “deepest and most heartfelt condolences” to the Norwegian royal family following the death of his “dear cousin” aged 89.
Norway's King Harald V has died at the age of 89 after three decades on the throne.
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The monarch died in a hospital in Oslo, where he was receiving treatment for a rare blood condition.
In the 24 hours before his death, members of the royal family visited, while crowds laid flowers outside the palace.
His son Haakon will succeed him.
Harald was recognised as a moderniser, making the royal household more open and accepting two more commoners into the Royal Family.
He also approved renovations of Oslo's royal palace, and opened it to the public.
The Norwegian Royal Family have faced multiple challenges over the past year, especially over his daughter-in-law Mette-Marit's association with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and her son Marius Borg Høiby's conviction for rape.
The new King, Haakon, stood by his wife through the scandals. He said he wanted to support his stepson, but released a statement expressing sympathy with the alleged victims and said Høiby should face the judicial system like any other citizen.
King Charles paid tribute to his “dear cousin” King Harald V following his death.
In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, the King said: “It is with the most profound sadness that my wife and I have learned of the death of my dear cousin, King Harald V of Norway.
“For 35 years, King Harald served his people with unwavering dedication, guiding Norway through times of great change with warmth and humility.
“As Norway mourns the loss of so towering a figure, my whole family join in remembering a much-loved kinsman and friend whose kindness, compassion and deep sense of duty echoed from across the sea and across the decades.
“The United Kingdom and Norway share particularly close historical and family ties, with Britain one of the first countries to recognise Norwegian independence and establish diplomatic relations in 1905.
“These special bonds were even further strengthened during the dreadful trials of the Second World War and helped to bind our two countries together.
“The Queen and I extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Queen Sonja and all her family, as Britain shares in Norway’s grief at this time of such heartbreaking loss.
“Charles R.”
Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 22, is now heir apparent of Norway.
She is in line to become Norway's first female head of state since Queen Margrete I ruled over Norway, Sweden and Denmark at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries. Since reforms introduced in 1990, it is the oldest child, male or female, who prevails in the line of succession.
After Ingrid Alexandra comes Prince Sverre Magnus, 20. He caused a sensation aged 11 with his "dabbing" dance move on the royal balcony during the national day parade in 2017.
Hoeiby is the oldest child in the family, but not in the royal succession.
Harald was born in 1937 in Asker, near Oslo, and was just three years old when the Nazis occupied Norway at the start of the Second World War.
To avoid capture, Harald and his sisters, Ragnhild and Astrid, fled with their mother first to Sweden and then by boat to the US, while Harald’s father and grandfather went into exile in Britain with Norway’s government.
After being reunited with his family following the end of the war, Harald went on to attend the Norwegian military college and Oxford University.
A keen sailor, Harald represented Norway at the summer Olympics in 1964, 1968 and 1972.
After refusing to marry several noblewomen, he wed his childhood sweetheart Sonja Haraldsen, the daughter of a successful businessman, in 1968 and they had two children – Haakon and his older sister Princess Martha Louise.
