Norway's King Harald V dies at age 89 following illness
Norway's King Harald V has died at age 89 after a period of ill health. Crown Prince Haakon succeeds his father after more than three decades on the throne.
Norway's King Harald V has passed away at the age of 89 following a period of severe illness, the Norwegian royal court confirmed on Friday. Europe's oldest reigning monarch died peacefully at Oslo's Rikshospitalet, where he was receiving treatment for a blood disorder and a systemic bacterial infection.
Following his death, the royal standard at the palace in Oslo was lowered to half-mast as citizens assembled outside to pay their respects. Harald V ascended the throne in January 1991, serving as head of state for over three decades. His son, Crown Prince Haakon, has immediately succeeded him as king.
Condolences poured in across Europe, with Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf expressing "great sadness" over the loss of his close friend.
Sources: BBC News, Berlingske, France24, ORF, The Local Sweden
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Earlier coverage
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