The board of directors and members of the Scandinavian Foundation extend our deepest condolences to our Norwegian friends in California, including CLU students and alumni, and the people of Norway.

About two weeks ago, King Harald was admitted to the hospital for hemolytic anemia. During his planned sick leave, the Crown Prince Haakon served as the King’s regent. Then suddenly, Harald’s condition worsened due to septicemia. On Thursday, the entire family gathered at the bedside: Queen Sonja, his children, and his grandchildren. Death came that evening at 9:35 California time, but officially, Harald died on Friday morning at 6:35, August 28, in Oslo.

Harald V (1937-2026) was the first Norwegian-born monarch since Olav IV in 1370, and he ascended to the throne on January 17, 1991. He was also related to the British royal family as a great-grandson of King Edward VII and a great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria. When Princess Maud (Harald’s paternal grandmother) married King Haakon VII of Norway, she became Queen, and the couple had one child, who became King Olav V (Harald’s father). Today, Harald’s son Haakon VIII is already the King of Norway. According to modern tradition, there will be no grand coronation ceremony. To fully confirm Haakon’s new role, he will soon take a formal oath before the Storting (the Norwegian Parliament) to uphold the constitution.

During his 35-year reign, King Harald was known as the “People’s King,” and he was adored by the citizens of Norway. He modernized the monarchy by opening royal properties to the public and being personally accessible to the people of Norway. In 1968, he married Sonja Haraldsen. They had dated in secret for nearly a decade, until Harald gave his father an ultimatum; that he would remain unmarried for life if he could not marry Sonja. This paved the way for future members of the royal family to marry persons they love regardless of status.

On Saturday, thousands of grieving Norwegians flooded the public square and courtyard at the Royal Palace in Oslo. From inside the Palace, King Haakon VIII delivered a tribute and mentioned— it was the day of his parent’s 58th wedding anniversary. He also thanked the public and said it was a moving and powerful experience to see the Palace Square filled with so many people, flowers, candles and messages of condolence.

Norway’s national mourning period will last until after the funeral. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre confirmed that the burial will take place during calendar week 37. Details will be released later.

In Southern California, the Norwegian Seamen’s Church in San Pedro is serving as a primary gathering place for people to mourn and honor King Harald’s memory.