King Harald of Norway, who has died at the age of 89, ruled his country for thirty five years and consolidated the monarchy’s popularity.
King Harald was the first King of Norway born on Norwegian soil in 567 years. He was born at Skaugum estate on 21 February 1937, the son of the then Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Martha. He was the youngest of their three children.
Harald grew up at the Skaugum Estate just outside the capital, Oslo, with his two older sisters, Princess Astrid and Princess Ragnhild. When he was three-years-old, the Germans invaded Norway during the Second World War. This forced the Royal Family to flee the country. #Harald and his two sisters were taken to Sweden, where their great-uncle reigned as King Gustaf V.
After a few weeks in Sweden, the Norwegian Royal Family was given political asylum in the United States, and throughout the war, Harald lived just outside Washington D. C. along with his mother and two sisters.
When the war was over, Harald returned to Norway. He was eight-years-old, and he was enrolled at the Norwegian school to continue his education. Having completed compulsory schooling, he entered the army and performed his military service before joining the Norwegian Military Academy. After four years of education in the army, Harald moved to England, where he studied political science, history and economics at Oxford University for two years.
Harald lost his mother, Crown Princess Martha, in 1954.
His grandfather, King Haakon VII, died in 1957. Harald’s father became King Olav V while the prince, now twenty years old, became Crown Prince. He assumed a number of official and ceremonial duties.
Following the end of his formal education, he showed great interest in international diplomacy and the Norwegian business community. He was also, for many years, a representative for the World Wide Fund (WWF).
From his earliest years, he showed a deep interest in sports. He was been interested in both skiing and sailing and participated in the Olympic Games in sailing several times and won numerous international sailing regattas, including the World Championships in sailing in 1987.
In 1968, Harald married Sonja Haraldsen, and the couple had a daughter, Martha Louise, in 1971 and a son, Haakon Magnus, in 1973.
King Olav died on January 17th 1991, and Harald succeeded him immediately. He was consecrated as King of Norway at Nidaros Cathedral on June 23 1991.
King Harald was a popular monarch from the beginning of his reign. As well as his constitutional and diplomatic role, he showed a deep interest in social issues. He was widely praised for his leadership in times of crisis while a speech made in 2016, in which he showed his support for relationships between all, was applauded around the world.
In recent years, the King has suffered from ill health and was admitted to hospital several times. In August 2026, he was admitted to hospital after developing side effects from treatment for a form of anaemia. He died peacefully on August 28 2026.
He is succeeded to the throne by his son, who is now King Haakon VIII.
King Harald V, King of Norway, 1937 – 2026
