Norway's King Harald V dies at 89; Haakon VIII ascends throne

Norway's King Harald V has died at the age of 89. His son will now rule as King Haakon VIII. The Royal Palace announced the news on Friday morning. Europe's oldest reigning monarch passed away peacefully at Oslo University Hospital at 6:35 a.m. Officials confirmed his condition had become extremely serious just days prior. Crowds gathered outside to lay flowers after family members visited him on Thursday.

Harald was hospitalized starting August 17 with haemolytic anaemia. This rare blood disorder destroys red blood cells too fast, causing fatigue and shortness of breath. He took the throne in January 1991 following his father Olav V's death. That made him Norway's first king born on Norwegian soil since the 14th century. His reign spanned decades of oil-fuelled prosperity.

The new king faced a troubled legacy immediately. Documents published in January revealed Crown Princess Mette-Marit had written to Jeffrey Epstein. Her son Marius Borg Høiby is now stepson to the future king. He was sentenced in June to four years in prison for rape and 32 other charges including domestic violence. The trial opened in Oslo recently where his father denied the accusations.

Harald ascended the throne after fleeing Nazi invasion with his mother in 1940. They traveled first to Sweden then the United States while his grandfather stayed in Britain. He earned public affection through a powerful speech in 2011 after Breivik's attacks killed 77 people. He told mourners that belief in freedom remains stronger than fear. Recent health issues forced him to get a pacemaker and scale back duties.

He never considered stepping down despite mounting pressure. Harald argued he took a lifelong oath before the Norwegian parliament. His death marks a significant shift for an institution under intense scrutiny. The monarchy faces difficult questions as it transitions to its next leader.