Norway’s King Harald V died at the age of 89 after being treated for a rare blood condition called haemolytic anaemia, which reduces red blood cells, causing fatigue and shortness of breath.Harald died peacefully on 28 August 2026 at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet. He had been on the throne since 1991 after he succeeded his father, King Olav V and was Europe’s oldest head of state at the time of his death. At that time, Harald was 53 years old.King Harald V was married to Queen Sonja. They tied the knot on August 29, 1968 at the Oslo Cathedral, Norway. Their children are Princess Märtha Louise and Crown Prince Haakon. Haakon will reportedly take the Norwegian throne following the death of his father. Princess Ingrid Alexandra is next in line to the throne as the new heir.Continue reading for more details.Everything you need to know about the family of Norway’s King Harald V Norway’s King Harald V has been remembered by the members of the royal family, and citizens who laid flowers outside the Royal Palace.Harald was born on 21 February 1937 to King Olav V and Crown Princess Märtha of Sweden at Skaugum estate near Oslo. His paternal grandparents were King Haakon VII (born Prince Carl of Denmark) and Queen Maud.He was the youngest of three children and the only boy. His sisters were Princess Ragnhild and Princess Astrid. At that time, the Norwegian Constitution of 1814 allowed only male heirs to take the throne. King Harald V was the King of Norway from 17 January 1991 until his death.The king inspired unity in the Norwegian region and always managed to say the right thing in difficult times. When neo-Nazi Anders Behring Breivik claimed 77 lives in twin attacks on July 22, 2011, Harald said:“I firmly believe that freedom is stronger than fear. I firmly believe in an open Norwegian democracy and society.”In 2016, marking his 25th year as a monarch, King Harald V delivered a famous speech on human rights, LGBTQ+ acceptance and religious tolerance. While addressing 1,500 guests at a royal garden party at the Royal Palace in Oslo, he said:“Norwegians are girls who love girls, boys who love boys, and girls and boys who love each other. Norwegians believe in God, Allah, the Universe and nothing.”King Harald V met his wife Sonja Haraldsen in 1959. At that time, they were in their early 20s. Haraldsen was the daughter of a clothing merchant and had no royal or noble background.Their relationship sparked debate as being heir to the throne, Harald was expected to marry a member of another European royal family. Consequently, the couple had to wait for nine years until they were granted permission to marry. King Harald V told his father that if he could not marry Haraldsen, he would remain single for the rest of his life. The couple announced their engagement on March 19, 1968. They eventually tied the knot on August 29. She became Queen Consort upon Harald’s accession in 1991.The Duke And Duchess Of Cambridge Visit Sweden And Norway - Day 3 - Source: GettyThey welcomed their elder child, Princess Märtha Louise on September 22, 1971. She has been married twice and shares three daughters (Maud Angelica Behn, Leah Isadora Behn and Emma Tallulah Behn) with her first husband, Ari Behn. They were married from 2002 to 2017. She then married Durek Verrett, a spiritual guide and self-professed shaman. They married in August 2024.Harald and his wife became parents for the second time when Crown Prince Haakon was born on July 20, 1973. He has been married to Mette-Marit since August 2001. They were introduced by mutual friends in 1999 at the Quart Festival, a Norwegian music event. They welcomed two children - Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus. Haakon became stepfather to Marit’s son, Marius, from a previous relationship.In its August 27 report, AP reported, citing palace officials that King Harald V was in “very serious condition” as his health deteriorated. This prompted the Queen to cancel her official engagements and remain by her husband’s side.Harald was a second cousin to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II. They shared the same great-grandparents in King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.Harald is survived by his wife of 57 years, Queen Sonja, his two children and his five grandchildren. He will be remembered for bringing modernisation in Norwegian region and for his marriage to a commoner.