According to Xinhua news agency, the Royal Family of Norway announced that King Harald V had passed away at 6:35 am on August 28 (local time) at Oslo Rikshospitalet University Hospital. Before his death, he was the oldest monarch in Europe.
In recent years, the king's health has shown signs of decline. He had to undergo surgery to implant a permanent pacemaker in 2024. Recently, he was hospitalized on August 17 to treat anemia, thalassemia and septicemia before his condition became very serious.
King Harald V was born on February 21, 1937 and officially crowned on January 17, 1991 after his father, King Olav V, passed away. During more than 3 decades of reign, he was loved by the Norwegian people and international friends for his approachable, warm style and tireless dedication to the great national unity bloc.
According to the succession regulations of the Norwegian Royal Family, Crown Prince Haakon (53 years old) officially succeeded the throne immediately after his father's death. The title and reign motto of the new emperor will be announced by the Royal Family in subsequent announcements.
New King Haakon was born on July 20, 1973, and has held the regent role many times when his father-in-law was ill or on foreign tours.
King Haakon's eldest daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, became the head of the Norwegian throne heir list.
Royal leaders and heads of state of many countries simultaneously sent condolences for the passing of King Harald V.
King Charles III of England expressed his condolences to his close cousin, praising King Harald V for leading Norway through many historical periods of upheaval with humility, dedication and warmth. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and King Frederik X of Denmark simultaneously assessed King Harald V as an outstanding leader, embodied in the spirit of "All for Norway" when combining harmony between responsibility and compassion. The Royal Families of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain also sent condolences and expressed respect for a great personality who dedicated his whole life to the country.
Leaders of the European Union (EU), NATO, along with French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Swiss President Guy Parmelin simultaneously emphasized the role of the late King as a symbol of stability, dedication and institutional responsibility. Israeli President Isaac Herzog also expressed deep gratitude, recalling King Harald V's mark in supporting the Oslo Peace Talks process from the early years of his reign.
