King Harald V of Norway dies at 89
Photo: King Harald V of Norway (Getty Images)
Norway’s King Harald V has died at the age of 89, according to a statement from the Norwegian Royal Court.
"It is with deep grief that we announce that His Majesty King Harald has passed away," the Royal Court said in a statement.
The Norwegian Royal Court said he died at 6:35 a.m. on August 28.
Just a day earlier, it had been reported that the monarch was in an Oslo hospital in extremely critical condition.
The king had been hospitalized with hemolytic anemia — a condition in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than the body can replace them — as well as related complications.
What to know about King Harald V
Harald was born on February 21, 1937, the only son of King Olav V and Crown Princess Märtha of Sweden.
Following his father's death in 1991, Harald ascended the throne and ruled Norway for more than 35 years.
In 1968, Harald married Sonja Haraldsen, who came from an ordinary Norwegian family. The couple had two children — Princess Märtha Louise and Crown Prince Haakon, the heir to the throne.
During World War II, after Nazi Germany occupied Norway, Harald moved to the United States with his mother and sisters. His father, then-Crown Prince Olav, remained in the United Kingdom with the Norwegian government-in-exile.
Before ascending the throne, Harald underwent military training and served in the Norwegian armed forces. He was also an avid sportsman, particularly in sailing. The king represented Norway at the Olympic Games three times and won a gold medal in sailing at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
Harald V was known for his relatively informal style and his efforts to keep the royal family closely connected to Norwegian society. In Norway, the monarch serves a largely ceremonial and representative role.
