Nature lover and world champion. 5 facts about the deceased King of Norway

King Harald V of Norway died on August 28 at the age of 89, leaving behind a 35-year history on the throne. He was not only a monarch, but also an athlete: he participated in three Olympic Games and became the world champion in sailing. Since childhood, Harald has been interested in nature and for two decades headed the Norwegian branch of the World Wildlife Fund. Izvestia collected five little-known facts about the monarch, who was considered close to the people in Norway.

Fact 1. The first prince born in Norway in 567 years

Prince Harald was born on February 21, 1937, at the Skaugum Estate in Asker. The Royal Court of Norway calls him the first Norwegian prince born in the country after 1370. The reason for this lies in the peculiarities of the history of the Norwegian monarchy and European dynastic marriages.

• His birth had another important dynastic meaning. Harald's parents already had two daughters, Princesses Ragnhild and Astrid. At that time, Norwegian law did not grant women the right to inherit the throne. The appearance of a son ensured a direct male line of succession. Harald himself became heir to the throne after the death of his grandfather Haakon VII in 1957. He was 20 years old at the time.

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Interestingly, Harald turned out to be the last link in the old inheritance system. After him, Norway changed the rules of succession to the throne: today, the eldest child inherits the throne regardless of gender.

Fact 2. He lived in the USA as a child

• Harald was only three years old when Germany attacked Norway on April 9, 1940. The royal family left Oslo and went to the north of the country first. Then Crown Princess Marta and her children moved through Sweden to the United States, where they arrived in August 1940 at the invitation of President Franklin Roosevelt. Little Harald spent the rest of the war years there.

Harald lived in a country where the political system operated according to completely different rules. He saw from the inside the peculiarities of the presidential system of government and communicated with people outside the European aristocratic circle. In the United States, he also met with Norwegian military personnel who were trained on American territory. There is evidence that the boy even played with Roosevelt's dog named Fala, the president's famous black Scottish terrier, on the White House grounds.

After returning to Norway in 1945, Harald became the first member of the royal family to attend a public school in Oslo. His school life was hardly affected by his royal status. Security was nearby, but the learning process itself was brought as close as possible to the lives of ordinary Norwegian children. Harald later continued his education at the prestigious Oslo Cathedral School, founded in the 12th century.

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• This experience explains many of the king's characteristics. Harald grew up inside the monarchy, but gained an insight into the lives of ordinary citizens both at home and in the United States. Later, the openness of the king became one of the characteristic features of his reign.

Fact 3. He was a world champion in sailing

Sailing was not a hobby for Harald, but a sports career: he defended the country's honor in this discipline three times at the Olympic Games. In 1964, at the Tokyo Olympics, he also carried the Norwegian flag at the opening ceremony. He then competed at the 1968 Mexico City and 1972 Munich Games. After that, the Crown Prince continued to perform internationally.

• In 1987, Harald and his team won the World Championship. The Royal Court of Norway lists this title as one of the monarch's main sporting achievements. In 2005, he achieved another major success and, already being the king, became the European champion. By this time he was 68 years old.

• King Harald continued to participate in regattas in his old age. He started national and international competitions every year. In 2022, when he was 85 years old, the king officially ended his career as a professional competitive yachtsman.

Fact 4. He headed the Norwegian branch of the World Wildlife Fund

Harald's interest in nature appeared long before his accession to the throne. As Crown Prince, he participated in the creation of the Norwegian branch of the World Wildlife Fund. Later, he served as president of the organization for 20 years. For Norway, where forests, mountains, marine ecosystems and Arctic territories play a significant role, environmental issues have become an important part of the future king's public activities.

Harald perceived nature as a part of national culture. He regularly engaged in fishing, hunting and other outdoor activities. In Norway, he visited salmon rivers for many years. In the autumn, the king went moose hunting in the Sikkilsdalen area. These classes shaped his public image of a man who preferred practical acquaintance with nature to desk discussions about it.

Fact 5. I didn't want to give up the throne

In the last years of his life, the question of Harald's abdication periodically arose due to his state of health. The king has undergone several hospitalizations, an operation to install a pacemaker in 2024, and treatment for infections. In 2026, he was hospitalized several times again. Age and health problems significantly limited his physical activity.

• At the same time, Harald maintained his intention to remain king for the rest of his life. In public statements, he referred to the oath and perceived the royal status as an obligation to the country. Harald V treated the monarchy as a service: he held the throne for 35 years, and before that he had been in the status of heir for 33 years.

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King Harald remained the reigning monarch until his death. On August 28, 2026, he died at Oslo University Hospital at 6:35 a.m. He was 89 years old. The royal Court officially announced the death on the same day. Death occurred as a result of prolonged deterioration of health: The king was in the hospital for several weeks, where he received treatment for a bacterial infection of the bloodstream, which appeared on the background of anemia.