Norway’s King Harald V Dies at 89 Amid Royal Family Scandals

King Harald V of Norway passed away at the age of 89 on August 28, 2023, after being hospitalized at Oslo’s National Hospital due to hemolytic anemia and a bacterial blood infection. He reigned for 35 years and was Europe’s oldest monarch following Queen Elizabeth II’s death in 2022. His son, Crown Prince Haakon, 53, has succeeded him as the new king during a turbulent period for the Norwegian royal family, which has faced declining popularity amid several public scandals.

The royal family’s troubles include Queen Mette-Marit’s lung transplant in June, shortly after her son Marius Borg Høiby was convicted of criminal offenses and sentenced to four years in prison. Additionally, documents revealed in a U.S. criminal investigation showed the queen had met and corresponded with a convicted criminal who had served time. Public opinion polls have reflected fluctuating support for the monarchy despite the late king’s enduring popularity.

Throughout his reign, Harald served mainly a symbolic role, notably helping unify the nation after the 2011 terrorist attacks by Anders Behring Breivik, who killed 77 people in Oslo and on Utøya island. In 2023, following the October 7 terror attacks, King Harald wished to offer personal condolences, but the Norwegian government restricted such gestures to official representatives. He publicly addressed the pain caused by terrorism and the Middle East conflict during a 2024 visit to an Oslo synagogue.

Born in 1937, Harald’s family fled Nazi-occupied Norway when he was three, first to Sweden and then the United States. He married Sonja Haraldsen in 1968 after a public struggle to wed a commoner. Due to multiple health issues, including heart surgeries and cancer, he reduced his public duties in his final year. The Royal House announced his peaceful passing early on August 28 at Oslo University Hospital. Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed condolences, praising Harald’s dedication and the strong bond he shared with his people.