King Charles Pays Tribute to His “Dear Cousin” King Harald V of Norway Following His Death at 89

King Charles III has paid an emotional tribute to his “dear cousin,” King Harald V of Norway, following the Norwegian monarch’s death at the age of 89.

The Royal Palace of Norway confirmed that King Harald died peacefully at 6:35 a.m. at Oslo University Hospital. Europe’s oldest reigning monarch had been admitted to hospital on August 17 after being treated for haemolytic anaemia, a condition caused by the unusually rapid destruction of red blood cells. His condition later deteriorated following complications from a bacterial infection in his bloodstream.

King Charles remembers a much-loved family member

Following the announcement, Buckingham Palace released a statement from King Charles expressing his deep sadness over the loss of the Norwegian monarch.

“It is with the most profound sadness that my wife and I have learned of the death of my dear cousin, King Harald V of Norway,” the King said.

Charles reflected on Harald’s 35 years on the Norwegian throne, praising his dedication to his people and the way he guided the country through decades of significant change.

He described Harald as a “much-loved kinsman and friend,” highlighting his warmth, humility, kindness, compassion and strong sense of duty.

The British monarch also emphasized the longstanding relationship between the United Kingdom and Norway, pointing to the countries’ close historical and family connections.

Britain was among the first nations to recognize Norwegian independence and establish diplomatic relations with the country in 1905. Those ties grew even stronger during the difficult years of the Second World War, creating a bond between the two nations that has endured for generations.

Charles concluded his tribute by extending his condolences to Queen Sonja and the wider Norwegian royal family.

“The Queen and I extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Queen Sonja and all her family, as Britain shares in Norway’s grief at this time of such heartbreaking loss,” he said.

A distant royal family connection

King Harald was a great-great-grandchild of Queen Victoria, making him a distant cousin of King Charles.

Following his death, his son, Crown Prince Haakon, immediately succeeded him as Norway’s monarch.

Harald did not attend the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey in May 2023. Norway was instead represented by Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit.

In Britain, the royal response to Harald’s death was also marked by flags being lowered to half-mast at major royal residences, including Buckingham Palace, Clarence House, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.

The gesture reflected the significance of the loss for both the Norwegian and British royal families, as King Charles mourns a relative whose family ties to the British Crown stretched back generations.