Norway’s King Harald V has died at the age of 89, bringing to an end a reign of more than three decades and paving the way for his son Haakon to become the country’s new monarch.
The Royal Palace said Harald died peacefully at 6:35am local time on Friday at Oslo University Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment after being admitted last week with a rare blood condition.
Following the announcement, the royal flag at the palace in Oslo was lowered to half-mast and a period of national mourning was declared through the day of the king’s funeral.
Mourners began gathering outside the Royal Palace, leaving flowers and Norwegian flags in tribute to the late monarch.
Born in 1937, Harald was the first Norwegian-born king since the 14th century. He became king in 1991 following the death of his father, King Olav V, and went on to become a widely recognised figure in Norwegian public life.
Harald had experienced a number of health problems in recent years and had gradually reduced his official engagements, although he had repeatedly ruled out following other European monarchs in abdicating.
His death means the throne passes to his 53-year-old son, Haakon, who is expected to hold an extraordinary Council of State with the Norwegian government later on Friday as part of the formal transition to the new reign.