King Charles Leads Tributes to His ‘Dear Cousin’ King Harald V of Norway After His Death at 89: ‘Heartbreaking Loss’
King Charles Leads Tributes to His ‘Dear Cousin’ King Harald V of Norway After His Death at 89: ‘Heartbreaking Loss’
Latoya GayleFri, August 28, 2026 at 10:21 AM UTC
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King Charles; King Harald V of NorwayCredit: Jonathan Brady - WPA Pool/Getty; Aserud / NTB / AFP via Getty -
King Charles has paid tribute to his “dear cousin,” King Harald V of Norway, after the Royal Palace in Oslo confirmed his death at age 89 on Friday, Aug. 28
“For thirty-five years, King Harald served his people with unwavering dedication, guiding Norway through times of great change with warmth and humility,” King Charles wrote in a post shared on social media
Flags are flying at half-staff in the U.K., as Crown Prince Haakon now ascends to the Norwegian throne
King Charles is paying tribute to his “dear cousin,” King Harald V of Norway, following his death at age 89.
The Royal Palace in Oslo announced in a statement that King Harald had died “peacefully” at the Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet at 6:35 a.m. local time on Friday, Aug. 28.
A video showing the monarch throughout the years was simply captioned “King Harald 1937 - 2026” on the Norwegian royal’s Instagram account. The King’s death came after he was hospitalized last week for a rare blood condition, following several years of health issues.
King Charles was among the first to share a social media tribute following the news, while several other royal families from across Europe also shared heartfelt memories of King Harald.
“It is with the most profound sadness that my wife and I have learned of the death of my dear cousin, King Harald V of Norway,” King Charles wrote in an Instagram post. “For thirty-five years, King Harald served his people with unwavering dedication, guiding Norway through times of great change with warmth and humility.”
“As Norway mourns the loss of so towering a figure, my whole family join in remembering a much-loved kinsman and friend whose kindness, compassion and deep sense of duty echoed from across the sea and across the decades,” King Charles continued.
The monarch reflected on the United Kingdom and Norway’s “special bond,” which was “further strengthened” during World War II.
“The Queen and I extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Queen Sonja and all her family, as Britain shares in Norway’s grief at this time of such heartbreaking loss,” King Charles concluded, sharing a photo of him and Queen Camilla alongside King Harald and Queen Sonja.
Flags are now flying at half-staff at Buckingham Palace, Clarence House, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. They will remain at half-staff until 8 p.m. local time tonight.
King Harald of Norway and King Charles in 2014Credit: Pool/Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands also shared a photo of King Harald on Instagram as they paid their respects on Friday.
“We were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of His Majesty King Harald V of Norway,” the caption read. “We will always carry the memory of our special friendship with him in our hearts. King Harald served his country with love, pride and dedication. The times we spent together exploring Oslo and further north were truly unforgettable.”
“We are thankful, too, for how he embraced the Netherlands and the Dutch people,” they continued. “At this sad time, our thoughts are with Queen Sonja, the Norwegian royal family and the Norwegian people. King Harald will be remembered for his capacity for friendship and bringing people together. Takk for alt [Thanks for everything].”
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Meanwhile, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain praised King Harald’s leadership in a tribute shared on their Instagram Stories.
“With our respect and admiration for him, and with profound sadness, we express our condolences on the loss of His Majesty King Harald V, an example of responsibility, dignity, humility, and tireless dedication to the service of Norway and its people, both before and during his 35-year reign. Our heartfelt condolences to the Norwegian Royal Family,” the translated post read.
King Harald of NorwayCredit: Jorgen Gomaes, the Royal Court via Getty
King Frederik X of Denmark also shared a photo on Instagram of a letter addressed to Crown Prince Haakon, who was pronounced King of Norway following King Harald’s death.
“Dear Haakon, it is with great sorrow that we have learned about the death of your father, His Majesty King Harald. We send our warmest thoughts and condolences to Aunt Sonja, to you and Mette-Marit, and to your family,” King Frederik X wrote.
“Your father meant a great deal to my mother and both of us. With his warm and dry sense of humor and unwavering calm, Uncle Harald made others feel comfortable and at ease in his presence,” he continued. “He was an extraordinary man, with a twinkle in his eye and a big heart.”
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King Frederik X described King Harald as a “cherished” person who “will be missed by many,” while praising his leadership. He also emphasized the “strong” bonds built between Denmark and Norway.
“Your father will stand as a symbol of that which binds us together,” he continued. “You now step into your role as king. It is one that we know you will bear with the same honour and dignity as your father. May faith, hope, and love follow you and give you strength on your journey.”
King Carl XVI Gustaf then expressed “great sadness” in an Instagram post, on behalf of the Swedish royal family.
“King Harald’s life story is exceptional; after the hardships of childhood with war and exile, he was able to return to a free Norway with his family and follow the country’s fantastic development during the 20th century, and then succeed his father as King of Norway,” he wrote.
“Both as a head of state and a successful athlete, King Harald was an outstanding representative of his country. He gave ‘everything for Norway,’ ” King Carl XVI Gustaf continued. “Throughout the years, the King has been a good friend to me, my family and to Sweden. King Harald is now being mourned by many in our country.”
“Today, my family and I offer our deepest condolences to Queen Sonja,” he added. “I wish my dear godson Haakon, who now succeeds his father as King of Norway, all the best and success in his future work for our brotherly country and people.”
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
