Norway's King Harald has died at the age of 89. The monarch, who was widely loved by the Norwegian people, ruled the nation for 35 years.
Throughout his time on the throne, he was well-known for breaking royal tradition by marrying a commoner, a decision that came to define his long reign.
Why It Matters
The Norwegian monarchy is constitutional, meaning the monarch serves primarily as a ceremonial head of state and a unifying national symbol rather than a political leader. King Harald's marriage to Sonja Haraldsen in 1968, which required years of waiting for royal and governmental approval, is widely credited with modernizing the institution and keeping the royal family closely connected to the public. His passing initiates a formal transition of power to his son, Crown Prince Haakon, who has frequently assumed royal duties as regent during his father's periods of ill health in recent years.
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