King Harald V of Norway Dies at 89; Haakon VIII Ascends to Throne
12 sources across 10 countries · 1 of them is linked to a state
Who reported this
- Sueddeutsche Zeitung
- Frankfurter Allgemeine
- ANSA
- Corriere della Sera
- Infobae
- G1
- La Tercera
- Le Monde
- Aftenposten
- Al Jazeera
- Neue Zuercher Zeitung
- Taipei Times
What the colours mean
- Left
- Centre-left
- Centre
- Centre-right
- Right
- A hatched block means the outlet is affiliated with, or controlled by, a state.
Political lean describes where an outlet sits within the politics of its own country. It is never a position on a single global scale.
Political lean is comparable inside one country and not across them, which is why the bar groups by country first. Publicly funded broadcasters are not marked as state-linked.
The owner of each outlet is listed as a matter of record, not as a judgement about the outlet.
King Harald V of Norway died on Friday, August 28, 2026, at the age of 89. The monarch passed away at the Rikshospitalet in Oslo following a period of hospitalization that began on August 17. According to the Royal House, the king suffered from hemolytic anemia and a bacterial blood infection. His death marks the end of a 35 year reign that began in 1991, during which he was the oldest reigning monarch in Europe.
His son, Haakon VIII, immediately succeeded him as king. The 53 year old monarch announced his name and his decision to maintain the royal motto, "Everything for Norway," during an extraordinary meeting of the Council of State. He is scheduled to swear an oath to the Constitution before the Norwegian Parliament on Tuesday, September 1. Princess Ingrid Alexandra, aged 22, is now the heir apparent to the throne.
Thousands of mourners gathered in the rain in Oslo to follow the royal procession as the king's coffin was transported to the Royal Palace. The coffin will lie in state at the palace chapel, where the royal crown, sword, scepter, and orb will be placed upon it. National mourning has been declared, and the royal flag was flown at half mast. International leaders, including Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron, and King Charles III, issued condolences praising the late king's service and character.
While the late king was widely remembered as a unifying figure and a lover of sports, particularly sailing, the transition occurs during a period of scrutiny for the monarchy. Several reports highlight recent scandals involving the royal family, including the conviction of the new king's stepson, Marius Borg Hoiby, for rape and assault. Other reports mention the controversy surrounding Queen Mette Marit's past communications with Jeffrey Epstein and the marriage of Princess Martha Louise to a self proclaimed shaman. The new king also faces the challenge of restoring public support, which some reports indicate has declined following these events.
How each side framed it
- Centre-left
- These outlets emphasized the contrast between the late king's popularity and the current scandals surrounding the new king's family.
- Centre
- This outlet provided a balanced account of the royal succession while detailing the personal backgrounds and controversies of the family members.
- Centre-right
- These outlets focused on the continuity of the monarchy, the official protocols of succession, and the late king's role as a respected national symbol.
Sources
- Centre ANSA: Farewell to Harald V, now son Haakon is the youngest king in Europe
- Centre-right Aftenposten: Thousands followed King Harald home
- Centre-right Aftenposten: Those who mourn now constitute the breadth of what Norway is today
- Centre-right Aftenposten: Sporting joy, warmth and humor. Here are the moments King Harald will be remembered for.
- Centre-right Aftenposten: 25 minutes after the king's death his phone rang. The man presented himself as the new king.
- Centre-left Al Jazeera: ‘The whole country’s grandfather:’ Norway’s King Harald V dies aged 89
- Centre-right Corriere della Sera: Norway's farewell to the king of records, Harald V, son Haakon VIII on the throne. The royal family procession
- Centre-right Frankfurter Allgemeine: Funeral procession: Coffin with King Harald V. is brought to the royal palace
- Centre-right Frankfurter Allgemeine: Death of King Harald V.: Match cancellations in Norwegian football
- Centre-left G1: Harald V, king of Norway, dies at 89
- Centre-right Infobae: Donald Trump lamented the death of King Harald V of Norway: "A great loss"
- Centre-right La Tercera: Haakon VIII assumes the throne and maintains the motto “Everything for Norway” after the death of Harald V
- Centre-left Le Monde: Haakon VIII becomes the new king of Norway after the death of his father, Harald V
- Centre-right Neue Zuercher Zeitung: After the death of Harald and scandals: Norwegians have high expectations for the new king
- Centre-left Sueddeutsche Zeitung: Norway: A royal couple in the storm
- Centre-left Taipei Times: King Haakon the new face of Norway’s monarchy
100% of the statements in this article were traced back to the source articles listed above.