Norway’s King Harald dies at 89
Norway’s King Harald died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital, the royal palace said, as the royal family faces several crises.
Oslo, Norway. Norway’s King Harald died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital on Friday 28 August at the age of 89, the royal palace said.
The ceremonial head of state since 1991 had been hospitalised since August 17 for treatment for a bacterial infection in his blood.
Health concerns
Harald, Europe’s oldest living monarch, had faced a number of health issues in recent years.
In 2024, he was hospitalised with an infection while on holiday in Malaysia, where he received a temporary pacemaker. He was flown back to Norway by the armed forces and later fitted with a permanent device.
That year, Harald said he would reduce the number of official engagements he attended but ruled out abdication, saying his oath as king was for life.
Royal family scrutiny
Harald’s death comes during a turbulent period for the Norwegian royal family.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who is married to Harald’s son Crown Prince Haakon, has faced scrutiny over her friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, for which she has apologised.
Her son Marius Hoiby, from a relationship before her marriage to Haakon, was found guilty in June of two of four rape charges and one count of domestic violence. He was sentenced to four years in prison after a seven-week trial, and both he and the prosecution have appealed.
Two days after Hoiby’s conviction, the palace said Mette-Marit had undergone a successful lung transplant, without stating when the procedure took place. After several weeks recovering in hospital, she returned home and marked her silver wedding anniversary with Haakon in August.
This news item was generated automatically by Cyprus Inform from publicly available materials. Report an error →