Norway's King Harald V dies at 89 as Crown Prince Haakon succeeds throne
Norway’s King Harald V has died at age 89 following a hospitalization in Oslo. Crown Prince Haakon succeeds him as monarch as tributes pour in across Europe.
Norway’s King Harald V has passed away at the age of 89 following a rapid decline in his health, the royal court confirmed. The monarch died peacefully on Friday morning at Rikshospitalet in Oslo, where he was receiving treatment for hemolytic anemia and a bloodstream infection.
Harald, who was Europe’s oldest reigning monarch, served for 35 years after ascending the throne in 1991 under the motto "All for Norway". Prior to his death, royal family members gathered at his bedside after his condition turned critical on Thursday.
Following his passing, Crown Prince Haakon immediately succeeded his father as Norway’s new king. Tributes have poured in from allied royal houses across Europe, including Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf, while citizens gathered outside the royal palace in Oslo to lay flowers.
Sources: BBC News, Berlingske, France24, ORF, The Local Sweden
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Earlier coverage
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