King Harald V of Norway, Europe's oldest monarch, has died aged 89
King Harald V of Norway has died, aged 89.
The palace confirmed the death of the monarch - the great-great-grandchild of Britain's Queen Victoria - on Friday (28 Aug) following days of speculation regarding his health.
According to Sky News, Harald, a father-of-two and Europe's oldest living monarch, was taken to hospital on 17 August, where doctors treated a bacterial infection in his blood.
"King Harald passed away peacefully at Oslo University Hospital on Friday 28 August, 06:35 (local time)," a statement confirmed.
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The throne will now pass on automatically to his King Haakon VIII.
In Norway, the monarchy serves as something of a status and celebrity symbol, rather than a position of power, with an elected parliament voted for by the 5.5 million residents being responsible for political decisions.
King Harald famously went into exile as a child while Norway was occupied by the Nazis during the Second World War. He, his mother and his sisters, Ragnhild and Astrid, fled to Sweden, from where they travelled by boat to the US.
They were regular guests at the White House, and a six-year-old Harald took on his first royal responsibility while away from home by christening new warplanes at a Norwegian air base in Canada.
His father and grandfather, meanwhile, went into exile in the UK.
In 1945, the family were reunited in Norway, shortly after the conclusion of the War.
Harald subsequently attended public schools, followed by the Norwegian military college and Oxford University in the UK. Alongside his studies, he was also a champion sailor, representing Norway at several Olympic Games, and skippering his yacht to gold in the World Championships.
Despite being urged to find a bride, he ceaselessly shunned Europe's noblewomen, eventually marrying his school sweetheart Sonja Haraldsen after receiving his father, King Olav's, permission.
The couple had two children, Martha Louise and Haakon.
In 1990, the Norwegian Constitution changed the rules to allow for firstborn children to take precedence in the line of succession, no matter their gender.
Unfortunately for Martha, however, the amendment was not applied retroactively, meaning that Haakon would take over the throne in the event of their father's passing.
Harald adopted his father and grandfather's motto, 'All For Norway,' during his reign in an attempt to modernise the country's institutions, once telling his people: "It has been my experience that the monarchy stands strong.
"This is not least because my father and grandfather did most things right. That puts me under pressure, but I take it as a challenge."
He followed his comments up years later with a speech delivered in 2016 in support of several previously contentious topics, including LGBT+ equality, refugees and religious tolerance.
"Norwegians are girls who love girls, boys who love boys, and girls and boys who love each other," Harald said, adding that many Norwegians can trace their family history back to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Poland, and other countries where they 'believe in God, Allah, the universe and nothing'.
Harald issued a similarly impassioned speech five years earlier when right-wing extremist Anders Behring Breivik killed 77 people in bomb and gun attacks in Norway.
"I remain convinced that the belief in freedom is stronger than fear," the late king said at the time. "I remain convinced of the belief of an open Norwegian democracy and society.
"I remain convinced in the belief in our ability to live freely and safely in our own country."
In recent years, however, the Norwegian monarchy has been plagued by scandal. His daughter married an American shaman, resigning from her royal responsibilities, claiming she, too, could communicate with angels.
His daughter-in-law, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, drew unwanted attention earlier this year over her association with late sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.
Though she has not been accused of any wrongdoing, she issued a statement of apology with regard to their relationship.
Her eldest son from a relationship that unfolded long before she met Haakon, Marius Borg Hoiby, was convicted of rape in a high-profile trial and sentenced to four years in prison earlier this year.
Topics: Royal Family, World News, News, Real Life
Rhianna Benson