King Harald V Dead at 89, Norway’s Longest-Reigning Monarch Makes His Son Haakon the New Monarch

King Harald V of Norway has passed away at 89 after a health battle.

As confirmed by the Royal Palace in Oslo on Friday, August 28, the King died “peacefully” at 6:35 a.m. local time that day at the Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet.

One of Norway's longest-reigning monarchs, Harald acceded to the throne upon the death of his father, King Olav V, on January 17, 1991. He maintained his position until the time of his death.

“It is with deep grief that we announce that His Majesty King Harald has passed away,” the palace said.

Per the BBC, the royal flag on the roof of the palace has been lowered to half-staff to mark the King's passing. His death came after he was hospitalized last week for a rare blood condition, his second hospitalization this year.

Meanwhile, the late monarch is immediately succeeded by Haakon, his only son. He is survived by his wife since 1968, Queen Sonja; their daughter, Märtha Louise; his elder sister, Princess Astrid; his grandchildren; as well as other members of the Norwegian royal family.

The news of the King's passing follows several years of health issues and weeks of hospitalization as his condition deteriorated.

When he was hospitalized for the second time this year on August 17, the Royal House announced at the time that it was due to side effects from other ongoing medical treatment. It was also said, back then, that the King would be on sick leave for two weeks.

Less than a week later, the palace announced that Harald's condition had “worsened” and he was receiving antibiotics for a “bloodstream bacterial infection,” per People.

Just a day prior to his death, the Royal House announced on August 27 that the King’s health had once again “deteriorated” and his condition was “very serious.”

Following this news, the Queen and the Crown Prince canceled their upcoming royal engagements to be by the King's bedside. Members of the royal family were also seen arriving at the Oslo University Hospital to visit the King.

Meanwhile, the late King's well-wishers also laid flowers in Palace Square in Oslo, in front of the royal palace.

King Harald stood apart from the monarchs who came before him in many ways, particularly through his commitment to inclusivity.

In a 2016 speech, he supported gay rights, saying, “Norwegians are girls who love girls, boys who love boys, and girls and boys who love each other.”

He also celebrated Norwegians of all faiths, adding that his countrymen believed “in God, in Allah, in the universe — and in nothing.”

“It is not always easy to say where we are from, what nationality we are. Home is where our heart is,” Harald continued. “In other words. Norway is you. Norway is us.”