King Harald V of Norway has died at the age of 89. He was Europe’s oldest serving monarch and the country’s third king since Norway regained independence in 1905 after its union with Sweden dissolved.
Born in Norway in 1937, King Harald V was the first Norwegian king to be born in the country since 1370. He was related to both the Swedish and British royal families, with his grandparents being King Haakon VII and Queen Maud, daughter of Britain’s Edward VII.
King Harald V married commoner Sonja Haraldsen in 1968, after reportedly stating he would not marry anyone else if he was not permitted to marry her. He became king in January 1991 following the death of his father, Olav V.
His son, Prince Haakon, will succeed him as King Haakon VIII and will adopt the motto “All for Norway”.