King Harald of Norway dies

King Harald of Norway has died aged 89, after more than three decades on the throne.

The palace confirmed the death of the monarch, who was a great-great-grandchild of Britain's Queen Victoria, on Friday.

King Harald had been Europe's oldest living monarch, and was taken to hospital on 17 August, where he was treated for a bacterial infection in his blood.

"King Harald passed away peacefully at Oslo University Hospital on Friday 28 August, 06:35 (local time)," the royal palace said.

Since assuming the throne in 1991, King Harald has slowly introduced modern touches that brought a ceremonial post, seen mainly as a ⁠symbol of national independence, into the 21st century.

King Harald had suffered from ill health in recent years, but he had rejected suggestions he could abdicate saying the commitment "lasts for life".

His death comes at a tumultuous time for the Norwegian royal family, which has been battered by multiple scandals in recent years.

After the monarch's death, Harald's son Crown Prince Haakon, 53, automatically became King of Norway, without a coronation.

King Harald played a critical role in comforting Norway in times of mourning, including when a far-right, anti-Islam gunman killed 77 people in 2011.

He also became a vocal defender of tolerance and diversity later in his life.

'Long life of service'

Tributed have flooded in for King Harald from around the world.

King Charles said he has extended his "deepest and most heartfelt condolences" to the Norwegian royal family following the death of his "dear cousin" King Harald V aged 89.

Harald had strong links to the UK and a close relationship with the late Queen Elizabeth.

His own grandmother was the British Princess, Maud of Wales, who went on to become Queen of Norway.

Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said: "A whole nation is in mourning and the people of Norway are
left with a deep sense of gratitude ​for a long life in the service of Norway.

"For more than three decades as monarch, Harald V demonstrated an unwavering faith in the Norwegian people. He helped us to ​see the best in ourselves - and in one another."

Flowers have began to pile up outside the royal palace in Oslo, as Norwegians mourn the popular king.

'Symbol of independence'

Norway's royal family was placed on the throne in 1905, when Norway gained independence from Sweden.

His grandfather, Haakon VII, was born a Danish prince, but was elected as king of Norway.

When Harald was born in 1937, he was the first royal heir to be born in Norway for almost 570 year.

Just three years later, the Nazis invaded and Harald fled to the US with his mother, while his grandfather and father, King Haakon and then-Crown Prince Olav, went to Britain to run Norway's government in exile.

Harald refused to pick a bride from among the European nobility, and instead married his school sweetheart, Sonja.

In more recent years the family come under intense scrutiny, with Crown Princess Mette-Marit, married to Harald's son Haakon, facing criticism over her friendship with ​the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Her son Marius Hoiby, born from a previous relationship, was found guilty in ‌June of two out of four counts of rape and one count of domestic violence and sentenced to four years in prison.

Two days after Marius was convicted, the palace said Mette-Marit had undergone a successful ​lung transplant, without specifying when the procedure took place.

Critics of Haakon's sister, Martha Louise, who has written books in which she claimed to have contact with angels, also blame her inflicting a blow to the family's reputation.

Like other royal houses in Europe, the Norwegian monarchs serve a largely symbolic role, enjoying celebrity status while real power is wielded by the democratically elected parliament.

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