Norway's King Harald V dies at 89 as Crown Prince accedes as Haakon VIII
King Harald V of Norway died at age 89 on Friday at Rikshospitalet in Oslo, with his son immediately taking the throne as King Haakon VIII.
Passing of the monarch
King Harald V of Norway died on Friday, 28 August 2026, at 06:35 local time at Rikshospitalet university hospital in Oslo at the age of 89. The Royal Court confirmed his death following a hospitalization that began on 17 August for the treatment of hemolytic anemia. Over the preceding weekend, medical staff detected a bacterial bloodstream infection and administered antibiotics. While the monarch initially responded to the medication, the palace announced on Thursday that his condition had become critical. At the time of his death, Harald V was the oldest reigning monarch in Europe.
- Born in Skaugum as the first prince born in Norway in 567 years
- Marries Sonja Haraldsen
- Accedes to the Norwegian throne following the death of King Olav V
- Receives a permanent pacemaker following an infection in Malaysia
- Admitted to Rikshospitalet in Oslo for hemolytic anemia treatment
- Dies at age 89 at Rikshospitalet, succeeded by King Haakon VIII
Immediate royal succession
Crown Prince Haakon immediately acceded to the throne upon his father's death under Norwegian constitutional law, taking the regnal name Haakon VIII. His wife, Mette-Marit, became Queen of Norway, and their 22-year-old daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, became Crown Princess and heir apparent. Norwegian tradition does not include a coronation ceremony. Instead, the new monarch will take a formal oath before parliament to govern in accordance with the constitution and the law. Haakon VIII, born on 20 July 1973 and named after his great-grandfather Haakon VII, had frequently acted as regent during his father's illnesses, including in the days leading up to Harald's death.
National mourning and government response
News of the King's death prompted immediate public and institutional mourning across Norway. Thousands of citizens gathered in front of the Royal Palace in Oslo to place flowers, light candles, and sign condolence books, following a Thursday night gathering where crowds sang the national anthem, Ja vi elsker dette landet. Church bells rang simultaneously across all Norwegian parishes at 12:00, while public broadcaster NRK adapted its programming. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre cancelled a planned visit to Germany, while bishops from the Church of Norway cut short a trip to Italy to return to Oslo. Storting President Masud Gharahkhani reflected on the loss of the monarch who had adopted the royal motto All for Norway.
We have lost our beloved king, and the entire nation is in mourning.
State transition and international condolences
Following the announcement, Prime Minister Støre convened an extraordinary cabinet meeting before ministers joined the new king for an extraordinary Council of State session at the Royal Palace. Official condolences also arrived from international leaders. Polish President Karol Nawrocki released a statement expressing sympathy on behalf of Poland.
It was with deep sorrow that I received the news of the death of His Majesty King Harald V of Norway. In these difficult moments, I join in prayer and express my deepest sympathy to the Royal Family and the entire Norwegian nation.
Poland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted Harald V's official visits to Poland in 1996 and 2012 with Queen Sonja. Harald V, born in Skaugum on 21 February 1937 as the first prince born in Norway in 567 years, had ruled since 17 January 1991, leading the country through moments including the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics and the 22 July 2011 terrorist attacks.
