Norway’s King Harald V Dies at 89 After 35 Years on Throne

King Harald V of Norway passed away on Friday at the age of 89. He reigned since 1991, serving mostly in a symbolic role for 35 years, and was the oldest monarch in Norwegian history. Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, Harald was also the oldest reigning monarch in Europe. His son, Crown Prince Haakon, aged 53, immediately succeeded him as king.

Harald had been hospitalized the previous Monday at Oslo’s National Hospital due to hemolytic anemia, a condition where red blood cells break down faster than they are produced. His condition worsened over the weekend, complicated by a bacterial blood infection treated with antibiotics. Crown Prince Haakon had been acting as regent since his father’s hospitalization.

Throughout his life, Harald faced numerous health challenges, including bladder cancer surgery in 2003-2004, two heart valve replacements (2005 and 2020), respiratory difficulties in 2020, and a temporary pacemaker implanted in Malaysia in 2024, later replaced by a permanent one in Norway. Due to his age, the royal court announced in April 2024 that he would reduce his public duties regularly.

Born in 1937 at the Skaugum estate near Oslo, Harald was the first Norwegian-born king in over 600 years. His early life was marked by World War II upheavals, including exile in Sweden and the United States. He was an accomplished sailor, representing Norway in three Summer Olympics (1964, 1968, 1972) and winning a European championship gold medal in 2005. Harald married Sonja Haraldsen in 1968, a union initially controversial due to her non-aristocratic background. They had two children: Princess Märtha Louise and Crown Prince Haakon.

Harald was widely respected for his role in uniting Norway, especially after the 2011 terrorist attacks by Anders Behring Breivik, where he publicly mourned and called for national solidarity. Despite invitations, Harald never visited Israel, though he maintained warm diplomatic ties and expressed hope for peace in the Middle East.

His son Haakon inherits the throne amid personal and public challenges, including controversies involving his wife Queen Mette-Marit’s family. Mette-Marit underwent a lung transplant in June 2024, shortly after her son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby, was convicted of sexual assault and sentenced to four years in prison. Additionally, revelations about Mette-Marit's past correspondence with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have stirred public debate.

Public support for the monarchy dipped during these scandals but remained relatively strong, with King Harald himself maintaining high approval ratings until his death. Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed condolences, praising Harald’s dedication and service to his nation.