The China Mail - Haakon VIII becomes Norway's king after Harald V dies at 89

Haakon VIII has become king of Norway following the death of his father, Harald V, at the age of 89.

Norway's Royal Court said Harald died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, at 6.35am on Friday, August 28. He had been admitted on August 17 with haemolytic anaemia and later developed a bacterial infection. The palace said his health deteriorated after initially responding to antibiotics.

The former Crown Prince Haakon, 53, was formally presented as His Majesty King Haakon VIII. He and Queen Mette-Marit have two children: Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 22, and Prince Sverre Magnus, 20. Ingrid is now second in line and would become Norway's first female monarch in more than 600 years if she eventually succeeds.

Mourners gathered at the Royal Palace in Oslo, laying flowers and candles as Harald's bier travelled from the hospital chapel to the palace.

King Charles III sent condolences to Queen Sonja and the Norwegian royal family, describing Harald as a relative and friend devoted to public service. Harald and Charles were second cousins once removed through Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark.

Harald was born on February 21, 1937, the only son of King Olav V and Princess Märtha of Sweden. After Nazi Germany invaded Norway in 1940, he left with his mother and sisters for Sweden and later the United States. His father and grandfather, King Haakon VII, joined Norway's government-in-exile in London. The family returned in June 1945.

After his mother died of cancer in 1954 and Haakon VII died in 1957, Harald became crown prince. He studied at the University of Oslo, graduated from the Norwegian Military Academy in 1959 and attended Balliol College, Oxford, from 1960 to 1962. A keen sailor, he represented Norway at the 1964, 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games.

Harald married Sonja Haraldsen, a commoner, at Oslo Cathedral in 1968 after a long relationship initially opposed by the palace. Their children, Princess Märtha Louise and Haakon, were born in 1971 and 1972. Harald became king in January 1991 and repeatedly said his oath to parliament meant he would not abdicate because of ill health.

The new royal household also faces scrutiny. Queen Mette-Marit apologised over her past association with Jeffrey Epstein after records showed she stayed at his Palm Beach home in 2013 following his conviction for soliciting sex from minors. Her son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby, was convicted in June of two counts of rape, assault, threats and traffic offences and sentenced to four years in prison; he was acquitted of two other rape charges.

Harald's later years included several health problems. He received a pacemaker after becoming ill in Malaysia in 2024 and was treated for infection and dehydration in Tenerife in February 2026.

F.Brown--ThChM