The King is dead

King Harald (1937-2026) died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet Friday 28 August at 6:35 AM.

King Harald V, known as the "grandfather of all Norwegians," reigned from 1991. During his 35-year tenure, he became the "people’s king" of Norway, loved and respected for his warmth and unifying presence.

Together with his wife, Queen Sonja, he visited every corner of the country and met with locals. He will always be remembered for his powerful speeches, including the one made at the national commemoration for the 22 July 2011 terrorist attacks and his speech about diversity delivered at a party in the royal garden in 2016.

Harald was genuinely interested in international affairs and followed the situation in the High North closely.

Even as a small boy, Harald had a connection to the far northern region. When he was only three years old, following the Nazi German invasion of Norway, the prince fled to Stockholm with his mother, Crown Princess Märtha, and his two sisters Astrid and Ragnhild. A few months later, they proceeded northwards to Petsamo, the Finnish region. On 17 August 1940, the US transport ship American Legion made a port call in Liinahamari and took on board the young prince and his family.

1998 state visit to Murmansk 

In May 1998, as relations between Norway and Russia were reaching a historic high, King Harald and Queen Sonja made an official state visit to Russia. After Moscow and St. Petersburg, the two flew north to Murmansk, where the royal yacht Norge was waiting.

In Murmansk, the royal couple met with regional authorities and laid a wreath at the Alyosha war memorial.

On several occasions, King Harald met with top leaders of Russia.

In November 2002, Vladimir Putin was on a state visit to Norway and was received at the Royal Palace. In connection with the visit, the Russian anti-submarine warship Admiral Chabanenko had made a port call in Oslo, and King Harald visited the ship and its crew.

In April 2010, then-President Dmitry Medvedev was on a state visit to Oslo, during which a historic deal on maritime border delimitation was announced.

Harald also met several times with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Twice, the two men were together in Kirkenes, the Norwegian border town, to mark the Soviet Red Army’s expulsion of German troops in October 1944.

At the 75th anniversary of the event in October 2019, Harald addressed a crowd that included top leaders and dignitaries from both countries, among them Minister Lavrov and Head Commander of the Northern Fleet, Aleksandr Moiseev.

King Harald was a strong advocate for freedom of speech and democratic values.

When the Barents Observer was awarded the Sønsteby Prize in 2025 for its independent journalism and coverage of the High North, King Harald was present in the room. Following the ceremony, the King approached the Norwegian-Russian team of journalists to congratulate them and shake hands.

King Haakon VIII

Crown Prince Haakon (53) became Norway's new king following the death of his father Harald on August 28. The new king is married to Mette-Marit who now becomes queen.

Like his father, the new King has a strong interest in international affairs and has made numerous official visits abroad. Haakon holds a BA in political science from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MSc in development studies from the London School of Economics.

In May 2025, Haakon made an official visit to Ukraine where he met with President Volodomyr Zelensky. The two also met in Oslo in April 2026.

Norway's new king has also been two times to Russia:

27 October–1 November 2003: Together with Crown Princess Mette-Marit, he visited St. Petersburg and Moscow. The Crown Prince also travelled to Murmansk.

25–27 February 2014: Crown Prince Haakon made a separate official visit to St. Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast.