Harald V, King of Norway, died at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet on 28 August 2026, at the age of 89. Harald had been admitted to the hospital since 17 August and was being treated for hemolytic anemia and a bloodstream infection. He was succeeded by his son, Crown Prince Haakon, who became King Haakon VIII.
Harald lay in state at the Slottskapellet from 31 August to 8 September. His state funeral took place on 9 September at Oslo Cathedral, followed by a procession to Akershus Fortress for private interment in the Royal Mausoleum. The service was attended by members of the Norwegian royal family, Norwegian government, foreign royal families, and foreign heads of state, government and diplomatic missions.
Background
In 1991, Harald became King of Norway at the age of 53 following the death of his father, Olav V. Since the early 2000s, he had experienced chronic health issues. He was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2003, and in 2005 he underwent heart surgery. In 2020, he underwent heart surgery again to replace the artificial heart valve he had received at his previous operation.
He had a leg operation in January 2022. Harald was hospitalised in August with a fever and again in December for an infection, and was admitted once more in May 2023 shortly before Constitution Day. He tested positive for coronavirus in March 2022 and again in October 2023. In January 2024, the Royal House announced that he was on sick leave due to a respiratory infection.
While on holiday in Malaysia in February 2024, Harald was hospitalised in Langkawi with a low heart rate and had a temporary pacemaker implanted. He was discharged on 3 March and transported back to Norway on a medical evacuation flight, after which he was placed on two weeks' sick leave. He received a permanent pacemaker on 12 March and was discharged two days later.
In February 2026, he was hospitalised while on holiday in Tenerife with his wife, Queen Sonja, and treated for a skin infection on his leg.
Prior to his death, Harald had been scheduled to visit the municipalities of Rindal, Høylandet, Siljan, and Nissedal in September and October 2026. These were the only municipalities he had not yet visited in an official capacity during his reign. He did not intend to abdicate, arguing that he had taken a lifelong constitutional oath before the Storting when he acceded the throne in 1991.
Final hospitalisation and death
On 17 August 2026, Harald was admitted to Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet with fluid retention caused by cortisone treatment for hemolytic anaemia and was placed on two weeks' sick leave. His son, Crown Prince Haakon, was designated regent during his hospitalisation. On 24 August, the Royal House said his condition had worsened and that he was receiving antibiotics for a bloodstream infection.
On 27 August, the Royal House announced that his condition had become "extremely serious" and that Haakon and Queen Sonja had cancelled all of their engagements. It was also reported that members of the family were visiting the hospital to be at his bedside. The Royal House later stated that his condition had remained unchanged. In response to the news, several officials cancelled or curtailed their travels, including President of the Storting Masud Gharahkhani, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, President of the Sámi Parliament Silje Karine Muotka, and the country's bishops, who were on a study trip to Rome.
Harald died at the hospital at 06:35 (CEST) on 28 August, aged 89. The Royal House announced his death at 08:35.
Succession
Upon Harald's death, his son Haakon immediately ascended the throne as King of Norway. On the same day, he met his government ministers for an extraordinary Council of State where he announced Haakon VIII as his regnal name, and renewed the "Alt for Norge" motto as his own royal motto; all monarchs since Haakon VII have used the same motto. He took the oath to the Constitution before the Storting in a ceremony on 1 September.
National mourning A period of national mourning was declared leading up to the day of his funeral. King Haakon VIII declared a period of court mourning, during which most of the royal family's engagements were cancelled, lasting until 9 October, one month after the funeral.
On 30 August, memorial services were held in churches throughout Norway. The royal family attended a service at Asker Church, near the royal estate of Skaugum.
Lying in state On the evening of 28 August, Harald's coffin was taken from the hospital to the Royal Palace. More than an estimated 10,000 people lined the streets of Oslo with flowers, Norwegian flags, and cards. Upon arrival at the palace, it was placed in the Red Salon.
On 31 August, Harald's coffin, draped in the royal standard, was carried by his children and grandchildren in procession from the Red Salon to the Slottskapellet, the chapel of the Royal Palace. The crown and the royal sword were carried before the coffin while the insignia of the king's Norwegian, British, Danish and Swedish honours were carried on cushions in the procession. At the end of the procession, the crown and sword were placed on the coffin and the insignia were placed at its foot. The bier was surrounded by candelabra and floral tributes from Harald's family.
Harald lay in state in the chapel from 31 August until the morning of the funeral. The coffin was guarded by cadets from the Norwegian Military Academy, Royal Norwegian Air Force Academy and Royal Norwegian Naval Academy. The chapel opened to members of the public for viewing from 14:00 on 1 September and remained open daily until 8 September.
State funeral
Procession to Oslo Cathedral At 12:00 (CEST) on 9 September, Harald's body was moved from the Slottskapellet in procession down Karl Johans gate to Oslo Cathedral on a gun carriage pulled by a Mercedes-Benz G-Class, flanked by members of the King's adjutant staff. The procession was led by mounted police, His Majesty the King's Guard, the Norwegian Army Band and the Lord Chamberlain. The King, Crown Princess, Prince Sverre Magnus, Princess Märtha Louise and foreign dignitaries walked behind. The Queen and Queen Sonja followed immediately behind the Norwegian royal family by car. During the procession, a 21-gun salute was fired from all of the Norwegian Armed Forces' designated saluting locations across the country, including Akershus Fortress.
Funeral service Harald's state funeral took place at Oslo Cathedral on 9 September 2026 at 13:00. The service followed the funeral liturgy of the Church of Norway and was presided over by the Preses of the Bishops' Conference, Olav Fykse Tveit, assisted by the Bishop of Oslo, Sunniva Gylver.
Harald was eulogised by Gharahkhani and Prime Minister Støre. A candle was lit by representatives of different faiths. The sermon was given by the Preses. The first lesson, taken from the Gospel of John, was read in Northern Sámi by the vice chair of the Sami Church Council, Mathis Eira. The second lesson, taken from the First Epistle to the Corinthians, was read by Norwegian actor Ameli Isungset Agbota. The Prayer of Saint Francis was read in Swedish by Harald's goddaughter Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.
Music was performed throughout the service. It included the hymns "", composed for Harald and Sonja's 70th birthdays in 2007 by Norwegian lyricist Edvard Hoem and composer Håkon Berge, "", and the English hymn "Abide with Me"; the Norwegian folk songs "" and "", the latter by Alf Prøysen and Bjarne Amdahl; and choral settings of Psalm 121 by Arild Sandvold and the Nunc dimittis by Kjell Habbestad. Two additional pieces were composed for the service by cathedral cantor Marcus André Berg. The royal anthem was also sung.
After the service, Harald's coffin was transported in procession to Akershus Fortress for private burial in the Royal Mausoleum.
Dignitaries
Countries with diplomatic representation in Norway and all members of the Storting were invited to attend the funeral.
Norwegian guests Royal family and relatives Queen Sonja, the late King's widow The King and Queen, the late King's son and daughter-in-law The Crown Princess, the late King's granddaughter Prince Sverre Magnus, the late King's grandson Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett, the late King's daughter and son-in-law Maud Angelica Behn, the late King's granddaughter Leah Isadora Behn, the late King's granddaughter Emma Tallulah Behn, the late King's granddaughter The late Princess Ragnhild, Mrs. Lorentzen's family: Haakon and Martha Lorentzen, the late King's nephew and his wife Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner, the late King's sister Cathrine and Arild Johansen, the late King's niece and her husband Sebastian Ferner Johansen and Belinda Lundstrom, the late King's grandnephew and his partner Benedikte Ferner and Aage Hvinden, the late King's niece and her partner Alexander Ferner, the late King's nephew Elisabeth and Tom Beckmann, the late King's niece and her husband Carl Christian Ferner, the late King's nephew
Harald's funeral was Princess Astrid's final public engagement, having died on 11 September.
Tjessem-Høiby family Marit Tjessem, mother of the late King's daughter-in-law Marius Borg Høiby, the late King's step-grandson Espen and Renate Høiby, brother and sister-in-law of the late King's daughter-in-law Per Høiby and Louise Kathrine Dedichen, brother and sister-in-law of the late King's daughter-in-law Kristin Høiby, sister of the late King's daughter-in-law
Marius Borg Høiby, who had been sentenced in June 2026 to a four-year prison sentence for rape and was under house arrest pending an appeal, was allowed by a court to attend the funeral.
Haraldsen family Karl Otto Haraldsen, the late King's nephew Marianne Haraldsen, the late King's niece Lis Dagny Haraldsen Magnus, the late King's niece
Verrett family Brandon Clarke, brother of the late King's son-in-law Angelina Verrett-Byrne, sister of the late King's son-in-law Lucas Byrne, nephew of the late King's son-in-law
Other relatives Count Axel and Countess Jutta of Rosenborg, the late King's first cousin once removed and his wife Count Carl Johan and Countess Sidsel of Rosenborg, the late King's first cousin twice removed and his wife Count Carl Johan and Countess Vanessa of Rosenborg, the late King's first cousin once removed and his wife Madeleine Kogevinas and Bernhard Mach, the late King's first cousin and her partner Countess Marie-Christine Ullens de Schooten, the late King's first cousin once removed Désirée Kogevinas, the late King's first cousin once removed
Politicians
Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway (2013–2021) Jens Stoltenberg, Prime Minister of Norway (2000–2001; 2005–2013) and Minister of Finance (1996–1997; since 2025) Kjell Magne Bondevik, Prime Minister of Norway (1997–2000; 2001–2005) Gro Harlem Brundtland, Prime Minister of Norway (1981; 1986–1989; 1990–1996) Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jon-Ivar Nygård, Minister of Transport Lubna Jaffery, Minister of Culture and Equality Dag-Inge Ulstein, Leader of the Christian Democratic Party Anne Lindboe, Mayor of Oslo Fabian Stang, Mayor of Oslo (2007–2015)
Members of the Storting
Masud Gharahkhani (Buskerud), president of the Storting Ove Bernt Trellevik (Hordaland), third vice president of the Storting Alf Erik Andersen (Vest-Agder), fourth vice president of the Storting Ingrid Fiskaa (Rogaland), fifth vice president of the Storting Hashim Abdi (Østfold) Henrik Asheim (Akershus), deputy leader of the Conservative Party Kirsti Bergstø (Akershus), leader of the Socialist Left Party Trond Giske (Sør-Trøndelag) Trond Helleland (Buskerud), deputy leader of the Conservative Party in the Storting Marian Abdi Hussein (Oslo), deputy leader of the Socialist Left Party Ingrid Liland (Oslo), second deputy leader of the Green Party