Norway's King Harald V Dies at 89; Son Haakon VIII Ascends to Throne
King Harald V of Norway, a revered "grandfather figure," has passed away at 89, with his son Haakon VIII immediately taking the throne.
Image is an AI-generated illustration, not a real photograph.
Norway's King Harald V has passed away at the age of 89, with his son immediately ascending to the throne as King Haakon VIII. King Harald V, who was Europe's oldest reigning monarch, died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet on Friday, August 28, 2026. He had been hospitalized since August 17, receiving treatment for haemolytic anaemia, a condition involving the rapid destruction of red blood cells.
Following the announcement of his death, national mourning has begun in Norway, with flags lowered and church bells ringing. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre expressed profound sadness and gratitude for King Harald V's dedicated service to the nation over more than three decades.
Crown Prince Haakon, 53, became King Haakon VIII upon his father's passing, adopting the historic motto "All for Norway." This transition marks a new era for the Norwegian monarchy.
What each outlet emphasizes
- BBC: remembers the late King Harald as 'Norway's grandfather' as son Haakon takes the throne
- AP: reports King Harald V's death at 89 and his son's immediate succession as King Haakon VIII
- The Guardian: provides an obituary and shows Norwegians paying tribute to the 'grandfather figure'
Read it at the source
time.com ↗ aljazeera.com ↗ irishtimes.com ↗ timesofisrael.com ↗ wikipedia.org ↗