Norway’s King Harald V dead aged 89
Norway’s King Harald V has died at the age of 89, the royal palace announced on Friday.
The monarch, who had reigned since 1991, died peacefully at an Oslo hospital, the palace said.
Harald will be succeeded by his only son, Haakon VIII, 53, with his wife, Mette-Marit, becoming Norway’s new queen.
The succession comes after the king’s final years were overshadowed by a series of scandals involving members of his family. Mette-Marit faced scrutiny over her past ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, while her son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Hoiby, was convicted of rape.
Harald’s eldest daughter, Princess Martha Louise, also drew criticism after relinquishing her official royal duties to pursue alternative medicine and marrying Durek Verrett, an American and self-proclaimed “celebrity shaman.”
The kimg had been hospitalized with a blood disorder on August 17. His health deteriorated during treatment, with the palace describing his condition as “extremely serious” on Thursday.
Members of the royal family canceled their official engagements and gathered at Harald’s bedside during his final days, while members of the public laid flowers outside the palace, according to local media.
Despite the controversies surrounding his family, Harald remained a popular figure in Norway and was credited with helping modernize the monarchy, including by marrying a commoner and increasing transparency around royal spending.
