Norway’s King Harald V Dead at 89, Son Becomes King Haakon VIII

Aug 28, 2026 - 16:11

0 0

Norway’s King Harald V Dead at 89, Son Becomes King Haakon VIII

Princess of Norway Märtha Louise Addresses Allegations She's in a "Lavender Marriage"

The Norwegian monarch died peacefully at the National Hospital in Oslo on Aug. 28, the palace confirmed, after being hospitalized for a blood infection. He was 89.

Crowds of mourners gathered around the hospital in Norway’s capital, laying flowers and flags, while flags were lowered to half-mast.

The newly ascended King Haakon VIII—the only son of Harald and his wife Queen Sonja, who also share daughter Princess Märtha Louse—is scheduled to hold an extraordinary council of state with the government, per the BBC, regarding his father’s death.

Harald, the only son of King Olav V of Norway and Princess Märtha of Sweden, held the throne for 35 years after ascending in 1991 following the death of his father.

And while Norway has long been a country defined by peace and prosperity, Harald grew up under the shadow of World War II and in 1940, the Norwegian royal family fled Oslo amid an invasion from Germany.

After seeking temporary refuge in Sweden, Harald, his siblings and parents fled to the United States, living out the end of the war in Washington D.C.

Upon his return to Norway in 1945, Harald reenrolled in Norwegian schooling, graduating from the Norwegian Military Academy in 1959.

PPE/Nieboer/SIPA/Shutterstock

In 1968, he married Sonja Haraldsen at the Oslo Cathedral after almost a decade of dating. While the pair would be by each other’s side until Harald’s death in 2026, their union almost never came to be: Sonja was a commoner.

But despite his father’s urging to find a bride amid Europe’s noblewomen and princesses, Harald eventually told the king that if he couldn’t marry Sonja, he would never marry. Despite the king’s fears, Harald and Sonja’s union was greeted with joy by the Norwegian people, with Sonja growing to be a beloved member of the royal family.

Per Ole Hagen/Getty Images

Harald’s time on the throne—which marked the first time a monarch born in Norway held the position since King Olav IV died in 1387—was defined by modernization, Harald working closely with his wife and son to grant additional access to the royal family by the media and allowing his two children to marry commoners.

He also was a staunch supporter of the LGBTQ community, saying in a 2016 speech, “Norway is above all people. Norwegians are girls who love girls, boys who love boys, and girls and boys who love each other.”

Rune Hellestad/Getty Images

Following the death of the monarch, King Charles of England—second cousin once removed to Harald—shared a moving statement about the Norwegian king’s legacy, noting it was with “profound sadness” he’d learned of Harald’s passing.

“For thirty-five years, King Harald served his people with unwavering dedication, guiding Norway through times of great change with warmth and humility,” Charles added in his social media statement. “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 decades.”

For more royal news around the world, keep reading…

Vito Amati/The David Foster Foundation via Getty Images

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Plan Extended Stay in the U.K.

Six years after they stepped away from royal duties and moved to California, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are packing up for what E! News has learned will be an extended stay in the U.K.

While it's not a permanent move, the couple will be enrolling their children Archie and Lilibet in school in Britain this fall, according to People, which also reported that the Sussexes are hanging onto their Montecito, Calif., estate and vacation retreat in Portugal.

Courtesy of Netflix

Meghan Markle's Show With Love, Meghan Scores Daytime Emmy Nomination

Meghan earned her first-ever Daytime Emmy nod on July 14 for the 2026 award show after her series With Love, Meghan was nominated for Outstanding Lifestyle Program.

Photo by Jonathan Brady - Pool/Getty Images

Prince Harry & More Lose $50 Million In Legal Fees After Privacy Lawsuit Loss

On July 7, British Justice Matthew Nicklin ruled against a group of high profile figures—including the Duke of Sussex, Elton John and Elizabeth Hurley—in a lawsuit accusing the Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail, of unlawful information gathering.

In the lawsuit, filed in 2022, the plaintiffs accused the newspaper organization of mobile phone hacking, landline bugging and even home bugging in 97 separate allegations.

Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty Images

Princess Eugenie Announces 3rd Pregnancy

In May, Princess Eugenie shared she and her husband Jack Brooksbank—who share sons August, 5, and Ernest, 2—are expecting their third baby together.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Arrested

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, was arrested on Feb. 19, his 66th birthday, on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

The arrest came amid renewed controversy over Andrew's alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein. (Andrew has denied any wrongdoing.)

Aaron Chown - WPA Pool / Getty Images

Prince William and Kate Middleton Break Silence on the Epstein Files

The Duke and Duchess of Wales spoke out amid the release of millions of documents in connection with Jeffrey Epstein, sharing their support for the victims of the late convicted sex offender.

"I can confirm The Prince and Princess have been deeply concerned by the continuing revelations," a Kensington Palace spokesperson shared in a statement obtained by MS NOW Feb. 9. "Their thoughts remain focused on the victims."

LISE ASERUD/NTB/AFP via Getty Images

Marius Borg Høiby, Son of Norway's Crown Princess, Arrested Ahead of Rape Trial

Marius Borg Høiby—the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and step-son of Crown Prince Haakon—was arrested Feb. 1 for assault, threats with a knife and violation of a restraining order, Oslo police confirmed in a statement to The Associated Press.

The 29-year-old—who does not carry a royal title or official duties—is being kept in detention for up to four weeks over risks of reoffending after the Oslo district court granted the request. His attorney Petar Sekulic told the outlet that they are considering appealing the decision.

Høiby is expected in court Feb. 3 as part of a separate indictment regarding four alleged rapes between 2018 and 2024, as well as two alleged acts of violence against a partner and violating a restraining order.

His defense team addressed the allegations in a statement to the AP, saying that Høiby "denies all charges of sexual abuse, as well as the majority of the charges regarding violence."

Dave Benett/Getty Images for Cartier

Flora Vesterberg, Queen Elizabeth's Cousin, Announces Pregnancy

Flora Vesterberg, the granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II's first cousin Princess Alexandra, announced that she is pregnant with her and husband Timothy Vesterberg's first baby.

"Delighted to share that Timothy and I are expecting our first child," she wrote on Instagram Jan. 19. "We're truly over the moon."

Photo by Brook Mitchell / AFP via Getty Images

Prince Harry Appears in Court for Lawsuit Against U.K. Tabloids

Harry appeared at London’s High Court Jan. 19 for the start of what is expected to be a weeks-long trial against Associated Newspapers—the media group that publishes the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday, and Mail Online—over allegations of unethical newsgathering tactics

Other stars including Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley, and Sadie Frost are also taking aim against the publishing company in the lawsuit.

Associated Newspapers has “vigorously denied” the claims, according to the BBC.

Instagram/Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Celebrate 10 Years Together

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex celebrated ten years together by sharing a romantic black and white video of themselves dancing in their backyard.

Set to Olivia Dean’s “So Easy (To Fall In Love),” the couple revealed that the clip was recorded by none other than their 4-year-old daughter Lilibet. Alongside a camera emoji, Meghan—who also shares 6-year-old son Archie with Harry— added in the caption of the Jan. 16 Instagram post, “cred: our daughter.”

The couple also shared a throwback photo from their first year of dating. In the adorable snap, the pair embraced each other during a nature-filled getaway.

“When 2026 feels just like 2016….,” Meghan wrote in the caption. “You had to be there.”

Photo by Europa Press/Europa Press via Getty Images

Princess Irene of Greece Dies at 83

The Greek royal family’s private office announced Jan. 15 that Queen Sofia of Spain’s sister died at the age of 83.

As the statement read, "It is with deep sadness that the Greek Royal Family announces that HRH Princess Irene, beloved sister and aunt, passed away on Thursday, January 15th 2026, at 11:40 local time, in Zarzuela Palace in Madrid surrounded by loved ones."

Her funeral was held Jan. 19 at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Athens following her death, with the burial at the Royal Cemetery of Tatoi.

Arthur Edwards - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Kate Middleton Celebrates Her Birthday With Moving Message

On her 44th birthday, the Princess of Wales shared a message on the power of nature to heal.

“Even in the coldest, darkest season, winter has a way of bringing us stillness, patience and quiet consideration,” Kate said in a voiceover alongside footage of snowy landscapes in her Jan. 9 video. “Where the stream slows just enough for us to see our own reflection, to discover the deepest parts of ourselves, alongside the whispers and the pulse of every living thing.”

She added, “I find myself reflecting on how deeply grateful I am. For the rivers within us flow with ease, fears washed away, cleanse and purify, come to peace with our tears and discover what it means to be alive, to be at one with nature—a quiet teacher and a soft voice that guides in memory helping us to heal in.”

(Photo by Isabel Infantes / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Kate Middleton Makes Surprise Appearance With Prince William

The Princess of Wales marked her first public appearance of 2026 as she joined her husband during an engagement at the Charing Cross Hospital in London. The outing in support of healthcare workers came almost a year after she announced she was in remission following her cancer diagnosis.

For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App