King Harald V of Norway has died at age 89 from haemolytic anaemia, ending a reign of 35 years. He is succeeded by his son, now King Haakon VIII, who spoke of his father in his first speech as sovereign.
Harald was widely regarded as a beloved reforming monarch. Tens of thousands gathered in Oslo to mourn him.
The royal family faced recent scandals, including Mette-Marit's contacts with Jeffrey Epstein and the rape conviction of Marius Borg Hoiby.
Some coverage noted a decline in public support for the monarchy. BBC News reported that one poll for Aftenposten newspaper found that support had dropped from 72% in 2024 to 54%. Le Monde (English) gave different figures, reporting that in February 2026, the institution had the backing of just 60% of the kingdom's residents, down from 70% only a few months earlier.
Le Monde (English) also reported that following a debate in Parliament on February 3, 2026, only 26 MPs voted in favor of establishing a republic, while 141 voted against.
Al Jazeera English reported that a police investigation was opened into former Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland on suspicion of corruption, while the princess' 29-year-old son, Marius Borg Hoiby, the new king's stepson, was sentenced in June to four years in prison on two counts of rape and 32 other charges, including domestic violence.
