Norway’s King Harald V: Europe’s oldest monarch dies at 89

King Harald V of Norway died Friday at the age of 89 after being hospitalised for more than a week with health complications, the Royal Palace said.

Harald died peacefully at the National Hospital in Oslo at 6:35 a.m. local time, the palace said in a statement. He had been receiving treatment for haemolytic anaemia and developed a bacterial infection during his hospital stay, according to Reuters.

“His Majesty King Harald passed away today,” the palace said.

Harald was Norway’s monarch for more than 35 years, ascending the throne in 1991 after the death of his father, King Olav V. He was Europe’s oldest reigning monarch and remained committed to his constitutional duties despite years of health problems.

After his death, his son Prince Haakon automatically acceded to the throne. Haakon was already Regent during Harald’s treatment, as per AP.

Born in 1937, Harald spent part of his childhood in the United States after Norway was invaded by Nazi Germany during World War II. He married Sonja Haraldsen in 1968 and is survived by Queen Sonja, their two children and grandchildren.