Norway Mourns King Harald V: Haakon VIII Ascends to the Throne
POLICY WIRE — Oslo, Norway — King Harald V of Norway, who spent his childhood in exile in the United States during the Nazi occupation, passed away on Friday. He was 89 years old. The announcement...
POLICY WIRE — Oslo, Norway — King Harald V of Norway, who spent his childhood in exile in the United States during the Nazi occupation, passed away on Friday. He was 89 years old.
The announcement came from the palace, stating that the king died at 6:35 a.m. at the National Hospital in Oslo.
Harald, Europe’s oldest monarch, chose not to abdicate, unlike some of his contemporaries. His son has now assumed the role of King Haakon VIII.
The Norwegian monarchy, like others in Europe, holds a largely ceremonial position, with true political power residing in the elected parliament. Harald ascended to the throne after the death of his father, King Olav V, in January 1991.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre expressed the nation’s grief, highlighting Harald’s dedication to Norway and his role in fostering national unity.
Born in 1937, Harald was the first Norwegian prince born in the country since the 14th century. His family fled to the U.S. during World War II to escape the Nazis.
Harald’s life was marked by his love for the sea and sailing, following in the footsteps of his father, an Olympic sailing champion.
Despite pressure to marry within the European nobility, Harald married his childhood sweetheart, Sonja Haraldsen, in 1968. The couple had two children, Haakon and Märtha Louise.
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Harald’s reign saw significant changes, including the alteration of the Norwegian Constitution to allow female succession. However, this change did not affect the line of succession for his children.
The king was known for his emotional speeches, particularly after the 2011 Norway attacks and in support of LGBTQ+ rights and religious tolerance in 2016.
Recent years have seen controversies involving the royal family, including allegations against Crown Princess Mette-Marit and legal issues faced by her son, Marius Borg Høiby.
Despite health issues, including the fitting of a pacemaker and a skin infection, Harald remained committed to his role until his passing.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)