Norway’s King Harald V dies at 89

Norway’s King Harald V died peacefully at a state hospital on Friday morning at the age of 89, ERR reported, citing the royal palace. “It is with deep sadness that we announce that His Majesty King Harald died peacefully at the state hospital on Friday, August 28, at 6:35 a.m.,” the palace said.

Harald, regarded as reform-minded, had occupied the Norwegian throne for more than 30 years. He earned public respect following his father, who was extremely popular among Norwegians.

Crown Prince Haakon became Norway’s new monarch following Harald’s death. His royal name will be announced after an extraordinary cabinet meeting. The government was due to meet the new king at the palace within hours, Norway’s public broadcaster NRK reported.

Harald had been hospitalised several times in recent years. He was admitted on August 17 after a medical check-up. The palace said he had been treated in recent weeks with cortisone for hemolytic anaemia, a blood disorder that had caused fluid to accumulate in his body and required hospital treatment. It was the first time the palace had disclosed that the king had a blood disorder.

Less than a week later, the palace announced that his condition had worsened because of a bacterial infection in his blood. On Thursday, it said his condition was very serious, NRK reported.