Norway mourns King Harald V following his death at 89

Norway is observing a period of national mourning following the death of King Harald V at age 89. The royal court confirmed that the monarch passed away peacefully at 06:35 local time on Friday at Oslo’s Rikshospitalet, where family members had gathered after his health rapidly deteriorated.

Following his passing, Crown Prince Haakon automatically acceded to the throne as Norway's new monarch. The royal flag above the palace in Oslo was lowered to half-mast as citizens assembled outside to lay flowers.

Tributes have poured in from across Europe. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden expressed "great sadness" over the loss of his close friend. King Harald had ruled for 35 years under his royal motto, "Alt for Norge."

Sources: BBC News, Berlingske, France24, ORF, The Local Sweden