Hashemite Royal Court Mourns King Harald V and Announces Three Days of Mourning

Al-Taj News – The Hashemite Royal Court mourned with deep sorrow and grief His Majesty King Harald V, King of the Kingdom of Norway, who passed away on Friday.

By order of His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein, the Hashemite Royal Court announced a period of mourning for the deceased at the Hashemite Royal Court for three days, starting today, Friday.

As it mourns His Majesty King Harald V, the Hashemite Royal Court expressed the profound impact of the loss on His Majesty King Abdullah II and the people of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and affirmed Jordan’s solidarity with the Kingdom of Norway and its friendly people during this difficult time.

King Harald V of Norway, Europe’s oldest monarch, died Friday at the age of 89, according to the Royal Palace, and was automatically succeeded to the throne by his 53-year-old son, Crown Prince Haakon.

In a statement, the Royal Palace said, “It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of His Majesty King Harald today. King Harald died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital on Friday, August 28, at 6:35 a.m.”

The flag at the Royal Palace was flown at half-mast in mourning, according to an Agence France-Presse correspondent at the scene.

King Harald had been hospitalized since August 17, suffering from hemolytic anemia, a condition caused by the destruction of red blood cells at a rate faster than the body can replace them, leading to fatigue and shortness of breath.

Members of the royal family visited him on Thursday after the Royal Palace announced that his condition was “very serious.”