Norway’s King Harald V died on Friday, 28 August 2026, at the age of 89.
The Royal House of Norway announced that the King died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital at 6.35 am.
His son, 53-year-old Haakon, immediately succeeded him as Norway’s monarch and became King Haakon VIII. Harald’s granddaughter, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, is now first in line to the throne.
King Harald had reigned since 17 January 1991, when he succeeded his father, King Olav V.
His final stay in Asia
King Harald’s most recent stay in Asia took place during a private holiday in Malaysia in February 2024.
He became ill with an infection while staying on the island of Langkawi. Malaysian and Norwegian medical personnel treated him at Sultanah Maliha Hospital.
Doctors fitted him with a temporary pacemaker after he developed a low heart rate. The procedure aimed to make his journey back to Norway safer.
He left Malaysia aboard a medical evacuation aircraft on 3 March 2024. Queen Sonja accompanied him on the flight. Doctors later fitted him with a permanent pacemaker at Oslo University Hospital.
The episode received considerable attention in Malaysia and Norway. It also became one of the most prominent recent connections between the Norwegian royal family and Southeast Asia.
State visit to China
King Harald’s most recent official visit to Asia was a state visit to China with Queen Sonja in October 2018.
The royal couple visited Dunhuang, Beijing, Shanghai and Suzhou between 11 and 19 October. It was their second state visit to China following an earlier visit in 1997.
A delegation of more than 300 representatives from Norwegian companies accompanied the couple. It was the largest Norwegian business delegation assembled for a state visit at the time.
King Harald opened the Norway-China Business Summit in Beijing. The programme covered trade, environmental technology, healthcare, welfare, education and scientific cooperation.
Chinese and Norwegian organisations signed 24 partnership agreements during the summit.
The royal couple also visited the Gansu Dunhuang Solar Park and the Mogao Caves. In Shanghai, they attended events concerning shipping, sustainable oceans and Norway’s business presence in China.
A life in Norway’s service
Harald was born on 21 February 1937. As a child, he left Norway with his mother and sisters after Nazi Germany invaded the country in 1940. The family spent much of the war in the United States before returning to Norway in 1945.
He later became known as a keen sailor and represented Norway at three Olympic Games. He carried the Norwegian flag during the opening ceremony of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf described Harald as a close friend of his family and of Sweden.
He also offered his condolences to Queen Sonja and wished his godson, King Haakon, well as Norway’s new monarch.
King Harald is survived by Queen Sonja, their two children, King Haakon and Princess Märtha Louise, and their grandchildren.
