King Harald, who has been Norway's ceremonial head of state since 1991, has always insisted he will not abdicate, saying his oath as king was for life.
https://p.dw.com/p/5JTpMPrince Harald was born on 21 February 1937Image: Fredrik Varfjell/NTB/AFPAdvertisementNorway's King Harald, Europe's oldest living monarch, has died at 89, the royal court said on Friday.
The monarch had been receiving treatment for a rare blood condition, hemolytic anemia, at Oslo University Hospital since mid-August.
"It is with deep sadness that we announce that His Majesty King Harald passed away today. King Harald passed away peacefully at Oslo University Hospital on Friday, August 28 at 6:35 a,m.," the palace said in a statement.
His condition worsened over the last few days, and his wife, Queen Sonja, and son, Prince Haakon, canceled all their engagements to be at his bedside.
Harald, who had been monarch since 1991, will be succeeded by Prince Haakon.
Haakon automatically becomes King Haakon VIII, succeeding his father as Norway's head of state. The Norwegian monarch has a largely ceremonial and representative role.
Harald had suffered a series of health problems in recent years and had increasingly scaled back his official duties. However, he repeatedly ruled out abdicating, saying the oath he had taken on becoming king "lasts for life."
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