Searches for “king of norway” spiked after the Norwegian palace announced that King Harald V had died at age 89. The Associated Press reported that Harald died at 6:35 a.m. Friday at the National Hospital in Oslo. Reuters also reported the palace announcement and said his son, Crown Prince Haakon, automatically became King Haakon VIII under Norway’s constitutional succession rules.

Harald had been Norway’s monarch since January 1991, when he succeeded his father, King Olav V. Although the Norwegian king’s constitutional role is largely symbolic, Harald became a highly visible national figure during more than three decades on the throne. The country’s elected parliament and government hold political power, while the monarch represents the state at home and abroad.

The king’s biography included an unusual wartime childhood. When Nazi Germany occupied Norway, Harald went into exile with his family and spent part of those years in the United States. He later returned to Norway, trained as a naval officer and married Sonja Haraldsen, a commoner and his school sweetheart. Their relationship initially challenged expectations surrounding royal marriage.

Harald was also associated with a more open public image for the modern Norwegian monarchy. AP described him as a popular king who helped modernize the royal house. In public remarks, he backed a broad definition of Norwegian identity and spoke about tolerance across different backgrounds, beliefs and sexual orientations. His approach helped maintain personal goodwill even as the monarchy faced periodic controversy.

Haakon, 53, now inherits the public duties of the crown at a time when European royal families are balancing tradition with demands for transparency. The new king had already served as regent during periods when his father was ill or away. The palace is expected to provide details about memorial arrangements and the transition of duties. Norway’s government remains responsible for political decisions, while the monarchy’s continuity is the central focus of the succession.