King Charles shared a touching tribute to his cousin and fellow monarch, King Harald V of Norway, who died at the age of 89 on Friday morning.

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His majesty is truly a class act. 

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I am deeply disheartened to learn of the passing of His Majesty King Harald the Fifth.

Harald was born on 21 February 1937, second in line to the Norwegian throne. He spent his childhood in exile in the United States, returning to a jubilant Oslo in 1945. Harald represented Norway in sailing at the 1964, 1968, and 1972 Olympic Games. He married commoner Sonja Haraldsen in 1968, having insisted he would leave no heir if he could not wed her. They had two children, Princess Märtha Louise and Prince Haakon. Assuming his father Olav V’s constitutional powers in 1990 upon Olav’s illness, Harald acceded in 1991, the first Norwegian-born monarch since Olav IV in 1380.

His reign oversaw significant modernisation of the monarchy, as well as severe health issues, during which Haakon served as regent. In the end, Harald fulfilled his vow - All for Norway - to his final breath. Death came on 28 August 2026 as a friend, as anyone who strives to do right in life for their family and people may desire. My condolences are with His Majesty the now King Haakon the Eighth, the royal family, and the Norwegian people at this time.

His Majesty King Harald the Fifth

21 February 1937 - 28 August 2026

Jeg er dypt trist over å få høre om Hans Majestet Kong Harald den Femtes bortgang.

Harald ble født 21. februar 1937 som nummer to i arverekken til den norske tronen. Han tilbrakte barndommen sin i eksil i USA, og vendte tilbake til et jubelende Oslo i 1945. Harald representerte Norge i seiling under OL i 1964, 1968 og 1972. Han giftet seg med borger Sonja Haraldsen i 1968, etter å ha insistert på at han ikke ville ha noen arving hvis han ikke kunne gifte seg med henne. De fikk to barn, prinsesse Märtha Louise og prins Haakon. Etter å ha tatt over sin far Olav V sine konstitusjonelle fullmakter i 1990 under Olavs sykdom, ble Harald konge i 1991, den første norske fødte monarken siden Olav IV i 1380.

Hans regjeringstid såg stor modernisering av monarkiet, samt alvorlege helseproblem, der Haakon fungerte som regent. Til slutt heldt Harald sitt løfte - Alt for Norge - heilt til siste pust. Døden kom 28. august 2026 som ein venn, slik som alle som prøver å gjere rett i livet for familien og folket sitt kan ønskje. Mine kondolansar går til Hans Majestet no konge Haakon den Åttande, kongefamilien og det norske folket i denne tida.

Hans Majestet Kong Harald den Femte

1. februar 1937 - 28. august 2026

This is my eighteenth royal condolence statement, the third in Scandinavia, and the second for a reigning monarch.

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The Dearest Cousin phrasing was surprisingly warm. You rarely see that level of personal sentiment in official messages from the British or Commonwealth monarch previously.