Norway's King Harald dies aged 89
Norway's King Harald V has passed away at the age of 89 following a rare blood condition. He is succeeded by his son, Haakon, after a 35-year reign marked by modernization and his role as a unifying figure.
Why it matters
The death of a long-reigning monarch marks a significant transition for the Norwegian state and the future of its constitutional monarchy.
Norway's King Harald V has died at the age of 89, after he was taken to hospital last week for treatment for a rare blood condition.
The palace in Oslo said he passed away peacefully at 06:35 local time (04:35GMT) on Friday at the national hospital in Oslo. The royal flag on the roof of the palace has been lowered to half-mast.
In the 24 hours leading up to his death, members of the royal family had visited the king, and crowds had laid flowers at the palace.
Harald was Norway's first king born in Norway since the 14th Century. He has been succeeded by his son Haakon.
After 35 years on the throne, he will be remembered as a popular and reforming figure who modernised the monarchy, broke with tradition by marrying a commoner and served as a unifying figure at Norway's most difficult moments.
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