Norway’s King Harald dies aged 89

Norway's King Harald, who ascended the Norwegian throne in 1991, had had multiple health problems in recent years. (EPA Images pic)OSLO: Norway’s King Harald has died aged 89, the palace said on Friday. His 53-year-old son, Crown Prince Haakon, automatically succeeds him on the throne."It is with deep sadness that we announce that His Majesty King Harald passed away today."King Harald passed away peacefully at Oslo University Hospital on Friday, Aug 28 at 6:35am," the palace said in a statement.The flag at the royal palace in Oslo was lowered to half-mast, an AFP reporter at the scene said.A few dozen people had gathered outside the palace in the morning, but after the flag was lowered to half-mast, hundreds began making their way to the palace courtyard.Hundreds of flowers had already been laid down the day before."Of course it's sad.

And naturally, it's sad when something so beautiful comes to an end," 36-year-old Maja Otvik told AFP in front of the palace.'Deep sorrow'Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said in a statement that he had received the news with "deep sorrow"."An entire nation mourns, and at the same time remains profoundly grateful for a long life devoted to Norway," the head of government said."King Harald loved Norway. And Norway loved its king," he added.The prime minister said the government would convene a conference "shortly" and thereafter meet the new king, Haakon, at the palace.Europe's oldest reigning monarch, King Harald, had been in hospital in Oslo since Aug 17, suffering from haemolytic anaemia, a condition caused by an abnormally rapid destruction of red blood cells which leads to fatigue and shortness of breath.The royal family had rushed to his bedside on Thursday as the palace announced that Harald's condition was "extremely serious".His wife, Queen Sonja, Haakon and his wife Mette-Marit and their adult children spent much of Thursday at his bedside, with media reporting that Haakon kept vigil overnight.Harald, who ascended the Norwegian throne in 1991, had had multiple health problems in recent years, forcing him to have a pacemaker fitted and to scale back his official schedule.However, he always ruled out abdicating, arguing that he took a lifelong oath before the Norwegian parliament.Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Store had cancelled a work trip to Germany early Thursday due to the king's …