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Norway’s King Harald V has died at the age of 89, after he was taken to hospital last week for treatment for a rare blood condition.

The palace in Oslo said he passed away peacefully at 06:35 local time (04:35GMT) on Friday at the national hospital in Oslo.

The royal flag on the roof of the palace has been lowered to half-mast.

In the 24 hours leading up to his death, members of the royal family had visited the king, and crowds had laid flowers at the palace.

Harald was Norway’s first king born in Norway since the 14th Century.

He has been succeeded by his son Haakon, 53, who will hold an extraordinary council of state with the government later on Friday.

After 35 years on the throne, Harald will be remembered as a popular and reforming figure who modernised the monarchy, broke with tradition by marrying a commoner and served as a unifying figure at Norway’s most difficult moments.

Royal observers say he was down-to-earth, respected and beloved, describing him as a “grandfather” of the nation and the “People’s king” – a title also used by his father King Olav V.

In the wake of the 2011 bomb and gun attacks on Oslo and the island of Utøya, Harald appealed to Norwegians to support each other and not “let fear take over”.

More recently, Harald and his family faced health challenges and scandal, especially over his daughter-in-law Mette-Marit’s association with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and her son Marius Borg Høiby’s conviction for rape.

During his reign, the Norwegian monarchy became more egalitarian and transparent with finances and health, Ole-Jørgen Schulsrud-Hansen, historian and TV2 royal correspondent, told the BBC.

Tove Taalesen, royal correspondent for Nettavisen, described the late king as “one of us”, while Caroline Vagle, royal expert for Se og Hør magazine, said he had “always been very close to the people”.

When Norway’s national football team returned from the US after making it to the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time, Harald welcomed them home at the palace.

He is survived by his wife of almost 58 years, Queen Sonja, their daughter Princess Märtha Louise, their son, the new King.

Harald was born on 21 February 1937 on the Skaugum estate near Oslo.

He was three when dictator Adolf Hitler ordered Norway’s invasion by Nazi Germany early in World War Two.

Harald’s mother fled with her children across the border to Sweden, and they travelled to the US on the invitation of President Franklin D Roosevelt.

Prince Harald returned with his family to Norway at the end of the war and completed his school and compulsory military service. He became crown prince in 1957, and studied social science, history and economics at Balliol College in Oxford from 1960 to 1962.

He met Sonja Haraldsen, the daughter of a businessman, at a party, but the crown prince had to wait nine years before he was allowed to marry her. His father, King Olav, had always hoped he would marry a European princess.

Eventually he told his father that if he could not marry Sonja, he would stay single, King Harald told Norway’s public broadcaster.

His father finally gave his consent, and the couple wed in Oslo Cathedral on 29 August 1968.

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A video capturing details of all developmental strides in the Federal Capital Territory by the current administration has been released to put the records straight.

The records are verifiable.

WATCH:

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Adebayo Adelabu, immediate past Minister of Power, has bowed out of the 2027 governorship race in Oyo state.

In a personally signed statement on Thursday, titled ‘APC Nomination Process in Oyo State: Closing the Contest, Not Conceding the Injustice’, Adelabu said his decision to quit the race did not amount to conceding the alleged injustice that characterised the party’s governorship primary in the state.

Adelabu said the decision followed deep reflection and strategic reassessment of recent developments within the party and the journey ahead.

He said he took a short vacation outside the country after what he described as the intensity and challenges of the past several months, before returning to consult with party leaders and supporters.

Upon his return, Adelabu said he met on Wednesday with party leaders and some of his supporters across the state.

He said the meeting reviewed concerns raised by party members, aspirants and stakeholders, which he said also extended to the senatorial, house of representatives and state house of assembly nominations.

“We agreed that the absence of publicly declared and verifiable results has understandably generated serious concerns about the transparency, credibility and integrity of the nomination process,” Adelabu said.

“We also affirmed that substantial documentary materials, authenticated collation records and video evidence exist which, in our considered view, raise serious questions about aspects of the process and the eventual outcomes.

“However, I informed the meeting that, after extensive consultations and careful consideration, I have decided, as a loyal and committed member of the All Progressives Congress, not to pursue an appeal within the party or institute legal proceedings over the process at this time.”

Adelabu said the decision is not because of a lack of evidence, confidence or conviction.

“Neither should it be interpreted as an act of surrender or an indication that my aspiration to serve as Governor of Oyo State is a do-or-die affair,” he said.

“Rather, I have chosen, in the interest of peace, party stability and the larger future of the APC in Oyo State, not to further escalate the matter through avenues that may deepen existing divisions and undermine the cohesion of our great party.”

He said Nentawe Yilwatda, the APC national chairman during his recent visit to the state “openly acknowledged that there were errors, unfairness and injustice associated with aspects of the primary election process”.

Adelabu, however, said the acknowledgement or apology should not substitute for correcting the grievances where there was still an opportunity to do so.

He urged the APC national leadership to initiate a comprehensive reconciliation process covering all categories of nominations and engage affected stakeholders.

“We therefore urge the National Leadership of the APC to urgently initiate a comprehensive, sincere and credible reconciliation process that covers all categories of nominations and genuinely engages all affected stakeholders,” he said.

“Members who feel wounded, betrayed or alienated must be deliberately engaged and reassured—not merely through appeals, but through concrete actions that demonstrate that their loyalty, sacrifices and contributions still matter.”

While reiterating that his ambition to govern Oyo state had never been a do-or-die project, Adelabu said he remained convinced that the timing of his ambition ultimately rested with God, adding that God’s time remains the best.

The minister reaffirmed his commitment to the APC, saying he had no plans to leave the party.

He, however, noted true loyalty demands the courage to speak honestly, constructively and responsibly when the need arises.

He appealed to his supporters, loyalists and party faithful across the state to maintain peace, restraint, maturity and civility following the outcome of the nomination process.

Adelabu resigned as minister of power on April 22 to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo state.

He contested the party’s guber ticket alongside 12 other aspirants, including Sharafadeen Alli, senator of Oyo south, who was eventually picked as the consensus governorship candidate for the party in the state.