politics
King Harald V of Norway obituary
Monarch who opened up the Norwegian royal family and its palaces to the public, and married a commoner despite his father’s opposition
TL;DR
- King Harald V of Norway, the country's third monarch since independence in 1905, died at age 89.
- He was born in Norway, a rarity, and was related to Swedish and British royal families.
- Harald and his mother and sisters fled to Sweden and then the US during the Nazi invasion of Norway in 1940.
- He represented Norway in sailing at three Olympic Games and achieved success in world championships.
- He married commoner Sonja Haraldsen in 1968, forcing the issue with his father, King Olav V.
- Harald worked to make the monarchy and its institutions more accessible to the public.
- He was praised for his response to the 2011 terrorist attacks, showing solidarity and support.
- The King faced various health issues in his later years.
- He is survived by his wife, Queen Sonja, their children, and grandchildren, one of whom has faced legal issues.