Norway mourns the death of King Harald 5th, who passed away at the age of 89 after a reign of more than three decades. The news was confirmed by the Royal Palace on Friday, August 28, 2026. The monarch was hospitalized due to complications from a hematological disease.
Details about the last days in the hospital
🇳🇴👑 Rei da Noruega, Harald V, falece aos 89 anos de idade
— Sputnik Brasil (@sputnik_brasil) August 28, 2026
© Foto: AP Photo / Francisco Seco pic.twitter.com/iqpj397VUU
The official statement from the palace reported that King Harald 5th died “peacefully” at Oslo University Hospital, at 6:35 am (local time) on Friday, August 28, 2026. Harald had been away from his duties for health reasons for a few weeks and had been admitted to Oslo National Hospital a week earlier, with his condition worsening over the weekend.
Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon canceled their official engagements to remain by the king’s side during his final moments. Previously, the palace had announced that the monarch was receiving antibiotics to treat a bacterial blood infection, remaining in stable condition until it worsened.
King Harald the Fifth’s Health History
In recent years, the king’s health has significantly limited his public activities. He received a permanent pacemaker and, in April 2024, announced a definitive reduction in his official schedule due to old age.
In February 2026, Harald was hospitalized for infection and dehydration while traveling to Tenerife with Queen Sonja. King Harald the Fifth was known for his refusal to abdicate, becoming Europe’s oldest reigning monarch following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
Haakon takes over as successor to the Norwegian throne
With the death of his father, 53-year-old Crown Prince Haakon becomes the new king of Norway. Haakon had already been acting as regent during periods when his father was away for health reasons.
King Harald 5th is survived by his wife Queen Sonja, Princess Märtha Louise, Prince Haakon and five grandchildren. The succession follows a direct line, with Haakon assuming the leadership of the Norwegian Royal House.
The trajectory of a modernizing king and his unprecedented marriage
Harald took the throne in 1991, succeeding his father, King Olav. Born in Skaugum, Norway, in 1937, he spent part of his childhood in the United States after the royal family fled during the German invasion of 1940. His education included Norwegian military schools and studies in social sciences, history and economics at the University of Oxford between 1960 and 1962.
In a gesture that broke with the traditions of European royalty, Harald married Sonja Haraldsen, a commoner, in 1968, when he was still crown prince. This decision was a milestone in modernizing the image of the Norwegian crown, making the monarchy more accessible and closer to the people.
Harald 5th’s social legacy for Norway
Passionate about nature and culture, Harald came to live with the Yanomami in the Brazilian Amazon, realizing his dream of spending four days in the jungle at the age of 76. He openly advocated opening the crown and told Reuters that “if you have opened the gate, it is very difficult to close it again”, reflecting his progressive vision.
The king was a figure of comfort for the nation in times of crisis, such as after the 2011 terrorist attacks, when he stated that “freedom is stronger than fear”. In 2017, Harald 5th gave a memorable speech in defense of LGBT+ rights and refugees, declaring that “Norwegians are girls who love girls, boys who love boys, and boys and girls who love each other.” He also emphasized the importance of trust, solidarity and generosity for the country.
Challenges and drops in popularity for the Norwegian krone
The death of King Harald the Fifth comes at a challenging time for Norway’s royal family. Princess Mette-Marit, wife of Prince Haakon, has faced public attrition due to her closeness to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Another point of tension was the sentencing of Marius Hoiby, Mette-Marit’s son, to four years in prison in June on charges of rape and domestic violence, although the defense appealed the decision. These episodes contributed to a drop in approval of the monarchy among Norwegians, which registered 60% in February 2026, despite King Harald’s high personal popularity.
