Norway’s Longest-Reigning King Has Died | Charlotte News

Charlotte News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 28, 2026 · 1m

Norway mourns the passing of King Harald V, the nation’s longest-reigning monarch and Europe’s oldest sovereign, who died at 89 after a storied 33-year reign. Born in 1937 — the first Norwegian prince born in the country in 600 years — he spent WWII in exile in the U.S. before ascending to the throne in 1991 amid Norway’s oil-fueled boom. Known for defying royal tradition by marrying his childhood sweetheart Sonja in 1968, he became beloved for his modern, inclusive leadership — including a landmark 2016 speech defending LGBTQ+ rights and religious tolerance. Despite health struggles…