Norway’s King Harald has died at the age of 89, the palace said on Friday.

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His 53-year-old son Crown Prince Haakon is automatically succeeding him on the throne.

“It is with deep sadness that we announce that His Majesty King Harald passed away today. King Harald passed away peacefully at Oslo University Hospital on Friday, August 28 at 6:35 am,” (0435 GMT) it said in a statement.

The flag at the royal palace in Oslo was lowered to half-mast, an AFP reporter at the scene said.

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Europe’s oldest reigning monarch, King Harald had been in hospital in Oslo since August 17 suffering from haemolytic anaemia, a condition caused by an abnormally rapid destruction of red blood cells which leads to fatigue and shortness of breath.

The royal family had rushed to his bedside on Thursday as the palace announced that Harald’s condition was “extremely serious”.

His wife Queen Sonja, Haakon and his wife Mette-Marit and their adult children spent much of Thursday at his bedside, with media reporting that Haakon kept vigil overnight.

The public streamed to the palace in central Oslo for a second straight day on Friday, laying flowers on the ground and huddling in groups.

Kaspara Bolstad, 24, told AFP Harald had been “a very steady and warm king”.

“I think the entire Norwegian people see him as a role model and as someone who brings people together. Whether you’re for or against the monarchy, I think he’s well-liked across the board,” she said.

📰 Source: Punch Nigeria