Norway’s King Harald dies aged 89 after more than three decades on throne

Norway’s King Harald, the country’s ceremonial head of state for more than three decades, died aged 89 on Friday after a period of ill health, the royal palace said. Harald, Europe’s oldest living monarch, died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital at 6.35am local time, or 4.35am GMT, where he had been receiving treatment for a bacterial infection in his blood.“King Harald passed away peacefully at Oslo University Hospital on Friday 28 August, 0635 (local time, 0435 GMT),” the royal palace said on its website.

King Harald’s health had weakened in recent years

The king had been admitted to hospital on August 17 after developing the infection. His death comes after a series of health problems in recent years that had increasingly limited his public duties.Harald was hospitalised in 2024 while on holiday in Malaysia after suffering an infection. He received a temporary pacemaker during treatment there before being flown back to Norway by the Norwegian armed forces. He was later fitted with a permanent pacemaker.