His Majesty Harald V, King of Norway, 1937-2026

 His Majesty Harald V, King of Norway, died in hospital in Oslo, 28 August, 2026_. He was 89.

In August 2026, the King was admitted to hospital with fluid retention caused by cortisone treatment for haemolytic anaemia and was placed on two weeks' sick leave. His son and heir Crown Prince Haakon  served as regent during his absence.

He was King of Norway for 35 years, and from 9 September, 2024, he was the oldest monarch in more than 1,150 years of Norwegian monarchy, living longer than his father King Olav V, who died at 87 years and 199 days. Following the death of his cousin Queen Elizabeth II, 8 September, 2022, King Harald became  Europe's oldest hereditary reigning monarch.

A Descendant of King Edward VII, he was therefor connected by blood to all the Europe and Scandinavian monarchs. King Harald was first cousin once removed of Philippe, King of the Belgians, and likewise of Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and a second cousin once removed of King Charles III, likewise of Frederik X, King of Denmark, and Carl XVI Gustaf King of Sweden, and a third cousin twice removed of Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands. He was a third cousin once removed of Felipe VI, King of Spain. He was a seventh cousin of Albert II, Prince of Monaco, and a fourth cousin once removed of Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein.

He was born at Skaugum, 21 February, 1937, the third child but only son of the then Crown Prince Olav of Norway, KG, KT, GCB, GCVO (born at Sandringham, 2 July, 1903, as Prince Alexander Edward Christian Frederik of Denmark), and his wife Princess Martha Sofia Louisa Dagmar Thyra of Sweden (born Stockholm, 28 March, 1901, died at Oslo, 5 April, 1954).

In 1905 Norway became independent for the first time in five centuries, having during that time either being tied to Sweden or Denmark. There was the question whether the new independent country should be a monarchy or a republic. Under the influence of the German Emperor Wilhlem II, a royal but democratic constitution was agreed upon, and King Harald's grandfather, a Danish prince, was selected as King. His ascension to the Norwegian throne was confirmed by a plebiscite, in which the majority in favour of monarchy was nearly four to one.

His paternal grandfather, HRH Prince Christian Frederik Carl Georg Valdemar Axel of Denmark (born at Charlottenlund, 3 August, 1872), was elected King of Norway, 18 November, 1905, when Norway's union with Sweden was dissolved. Prince Christian became Haakon VII, King of Norway, and reigned until his death at Oslo, 21 September, 1957. The then Prince Christian married in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace, 22 July, 1896, HRH The Princess Maud Charlotte Mary Victoria of Wales, VA, CI, GCVO, GCStJ (born at Marlborough House, London, 26 November, 1869, died in London, 20 November, 1938), youngest daughter of the then Prince of Wales [later King Edward VII] and Queen Alexandra.

Young Harald studied for periods at the University of Oslo, the Norwegian Military Academy, and Balliol College, Oxford. A keen sportsman, Harald represented Norway in sailing at the 1964, 1968, and 1972 Olympic Games, and later became patron of World Sailing.

Harald became Crown Prince of Norway upon his grandfather's demise, 21 September, 1957. His father reigned as Olav V, King of Norway.

Harald was appointed GCVO by his cousin Queen Elizabeth II in 1955, and received the Royal Victorian Chain in 1994. He became the 990th Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter in 2001.

He married at Oslo, 29 August, 1968, Sonja Haraldsen (born Oslo, 4 July, 1937), daughter of Carl August Haraldsen, by his wife the former Dagny Ulrichsen, by whom he had issue, a son, Crown Prince Haakon Magnus (born at Oslo, 20 July, 1973), who now succeeds to the throne, and a daughter, Princess Martha Louise (born at Oslo, 22 September, 1971).

Crown Prince Harald succeeded to the Norwegian throne on the death of his father, 17 January, 1991.

In the British Army, King Harald was appointed an honorary general in 1994, and he was the final Colonel-in-Chief of the Green Howards. He is also an honorary Colonel in the British Royal Marines. He was patron of the Anglo-Norse Society in London, formerly together with Queen Elizabeth II, his second cousin. Harald was in the line of succession to the British throne, because of his descent from great-grandfather, King Edward VII.