NORWAY (Kashmir English): King Harald V of Norway has died at the age of 89, the Norwegian royal palace confirmed, bringing to an end a long and important period in the country’s monarchy.
According to the palace, King Harald V breathed his last at Oslo University Hospital. He had been ill for some time and his health had become extremely serious in recent days.
King Harald V ascended to the throne of Norway in 1991 after the death of his father, King Olav V. He served as the country’s ceremonial head of state for more than three decades.
During his long reign, King Harald emerged as a popular and relatively reformist monarch. He was able to carve out a unique identity for himself, separate from his father’s strong public image, and his strong connection with the Norwegian people is considered a hallmark of his reign.
King Harald has suffered from health problems over the years, which have prevented him from performing royal duties on several occasions. However, he has ruled out abdicating his position.
After his death, Norway’s royal duties will pass to his son, Crown Prince Haakon. Prince Haakon has also served as acting head of state on several occasions during his father’s illness.
The death of King Harald V is being hailed as a turning point in Norway’s modern royal history. His long reign, popularity, and efforts to maintain the monarchy’s relationship with a changing society were among the main characteristics of his reign.
