NORWAY'S KING HARALD V DEAD

Written by Michael Thervil

NORWAY’S KING HARALD V DEAD | WRITTEN BY MICHAEL THERVIL | PHOTOGRAPHER UNKNOWN

[NORWAY KING HARALD V DEAD] Yesterday millions of Norwegians mourned the death of their King, King Harald V who died at the age of 89 at the Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet at 6:35 a.m. King Harald was born in 1937 and led the nation of Norway for 35 years. His death came at a time when he was hospitalized for a rare blood condition last week that many speculated may have been the source of many of his health conditions over the years. King Charles of the U.K. was one of the first to share his thoughts and comments after receiving notifications of King Harald's death.

Other Kings and Queens within the region such as King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, King Frederik X of Denmark and others expressed their love, admiration, and their  condolences to the family of the now deceased King Harald V. King Charles of the U.K. was quoted saying “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” while refereeing to their friendship as “a special bond”.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands were also quoted saying “We were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of His Majesty King Harald V of Norway. 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. 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.”

Flags were flown half-staff at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse. As well as Clarence House until the evening.