His Majesty King Harald 2025. Photo: Kimm Saatvedt / The Royal Court
Died today at hospital
King Harald has died today at 06:35 after eleven days at the Rikshospitalet (The Norwegian National Hospital). Over several years the King had various health challenges, but despite this he remained active in his royal duties until the very end. The King was admitted on 17 August as a result of a complication following treatment for the blood disease haemolytic anaemia; the illness worsened when an infection arose in the blood.
An impressive and beloved King
Through his reign, King Harald made a great impression on the Norwegian people and was deeply loved. The King carried forward the motto “All for Norway” after his grandfather King Haakon and his father King Olav. King Harald lived up to both his predecessors and the motto in a most impressive way.
The King's work was marked by him being a modern and caring fellow human being. His father, King Olav, was known as the People's King. King Harald brought that legacy into a modern age, in which he modernised the monarchy and opened up for more communication between the Palace and the people.
This meant that the people gained greater insight into the life and work of the royal house; in addition, the King was both visible and closely involved in the times. He was warmly present at events of various kinds across the long Norwegian country and represented Norway excellently abroad.
He was there in the good times when Norway celebrated the country's and the people's achievements, but even more importantly in bad times when disasters and tragedies struck Norway. He laughed with the people, and he wept with the people.
United the Norwegian people
The King was a deeply inclusive person who showed the way for Norway and Norwegians, something he expressed excellently in a speech on 1 September 2016. These are some sentences from the speech that made a lasting impression on the Norwegian people:
Norwegians are people from the north, from Trøndelag, from the south — and people from all the other regions.
Norwegians have also immigrated from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Poland, Sweden, Somalia and Syria.
Norwegians are young and old, tall and short, able-bodied and wheelchair users.
Norwegians are rich, poor and in between.
Norwegians like football and handball, climb mountain peaks and sail — while others are happiest on the sofa.
Norwegians are single, divorced, families with children and old married couples.
Norwegians are girls who love girls, boys who love boys, and girls and boys who love each other.
Norwegians believe in God, Allah, the Universe and Nothing.
Gave love and comfort
But first and foremost, the people's love for King Harald comes from the fact that he gave of himself. He did not conceal that life can be difficult, whether it was love, illness or more controversial matters. He answered questions and showed through his actions how he, as a human being, reasoned and coped with crises great and small in life. By sharing his life experiences he gave love and comfort to the Norwegian people.
Thank you, King Harald, rest in peace!
Biography
King Harald V was born on 21 February 1937 at the Skaugum Residence and became crown prince after King Haakon's death in 1957. He married Sonja Haraldsen on 29 August 1968, after which they moved to Skaugum. Harald became king after King Olav V died on 17 January 1991. Harald and Sonja were consecrated as king and queen on 23 June 1991. They moved into the Palace after restorations in 2001.
King Harald leaves behind Queen Sonja (89), two children and five grandchildren:
Princess Märtha Louise, born 22 September 1971. She has three daughters with her divorced and deceased former husband Ari Behn: Maud Angelica Leah, Isadora and Emma Tallulah.
Crown Prince Haakon, born 20 July 1973. He has two children with Crown Princess Mette-Marit: Ingrid Alexandra and Sverre Magnus. Mette-Marit has a son, Marius Borg Høiby, from a previous relationship.
SOURCES
The Royal House
Kong Harald 1937 - 2026The Royal House
Harald's biographyAftenposten
The King's speech