"Harald V, the End of a Reign and a Difficult Succession for the Last Viking King" by Carlo Coppola
At 6:35 a.m. on Friday, August 28, at Rikshospitalet in Oslo, King Harald V of Norway died at the age of 89. On the throne since 1991, he was the symbol of a restrained and discreet monarchy, deeply rooted in popular sentiment and capable of representing Norwegian identity without ever resorting to the rhetoric of power.
A child during the Nazi occupation, he lived in exile in Sweden and the United States alongside his grandfather, King Haakon VII, a symbol of Norwegian resistance and a figure who profoundly influenced his formation as a future sovereign. After returning to his homeland following the war, Harald established himself as an Olympic sailor, competing in three editions of the Games and placing sport and his passion for the sea at the center of his public life.
In 1968, he broke with dynastic conventions by marrying Sonja Haraldsen, the daughter of clothing merchants and a professionally trained seamstress who later earned degrees in English, French, and art history. She succeeded in winning the affection of the entire country. Their non-aristocratic marriage caused controversy at the time, but Harald firmly defended his choice against resistance within both the court and public opinion.
Throughout his life, first as Crown Prince and later as sovereign from 1991, Harald gave his country its first great modern royal fairy tale, helping to renew the image the world had of Norway and forcing his own family to reject the idea that personal happiness and dynastic duty had to be mutually exclusive.
His long reign spanned the end of the Cold War, the North Sea oil boom that transformed the Norwegian economy into one of Europe's strongest, and the enduring debates over European integration. Membership of the European Union was repeatedly rejected in popular referendums, confirming a country deeply protective of its autonomy. It was a long reign marked by balance and institutional continuity, one that successfully navigated decades of social transformation while preserving the bond between the Crown and its citizens.
Now the crown passes to his son, the newly proclaimed King Haakon VIII, alongside his wife, Mette-Marit. It is a dynastic transition not without its challenges, one that the royal family promises to face with transparency. The new sovereign's long preparation, having grown up in his father's shadow and having been involved in institutional duties for many years, offers grounds for hope regarding the future of one of Europe's most popular monarchies.
Yet, as Rai News also emphasized in its presentation of the new sovereign, “The succession to the throne opens during a turbulent period for the Norwegian royal family, amid revelations about the Queen's contacts with Epstein and the conviction of her stepson for sexual offenses.”
Our most sincere condolences go to Queen Sonja and the entire royal family during these hours of national mourning. To the new King Haakon VIII, our sincere wishes for a long, wise, and peaceful reign.
