Narendra Modi has expressed his deep sorrow over the death of King Harald V of Norway and wished to express his deepest thoughts to the Norwegian people and the Norwegian Royal Family after the news that the king died on 28 August 2026.
King Harald V died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital at 6:35 a.m. local time on Friday, the Norwegian Royal Palace said. He was 89. Norwegian authorities reported his death as the country mourned the monarch, who had served as Norway’s head of state since 1991.
In his message, Modi recalled meeting King Harald when he visited Norway earlier this year. Modi said he was deeply touched by the King’s warmth and his strong sense of service to the Norwegian nation. “The meeting was a fond memory as well and he said he deeply grieved for the Royal Family and the people of Norway in the midst of national mourning,” Modi wrote.
Modi’s tribute comes as Norway prepares itself for mourning after a monarch who was admired and interlinked for over three decades. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre also expressed sadness at the death of the King and said the country was left with a deep sense of gratitude for Harald’s long life dedicated to Norway.
King Harald V was born on February 21, 1937, and became the king of Norway after the death of his father, King Olav V, in January 1991. He was known for his close relationship with the Norwegian people as he helped to modernize the monarchy. He was a man who brought people together in times of national crisis.
Harald’s reign had been marked by the July 2011 terrorist attacks in Norway in the aftermath. His public reply during the following period was noted for unity, compassion, and the importance of an open and inclusive society. For the rest of his reign, his speeches and public appearances helped to cement him as a king who was interested in the whole Norwegian population.
King Harald was involved in sports, too, and represented Norway in sailing. His interest in sailing was a family tradition, and he was involved in the Olympic sailing competitions. Besides his royal duties, he was also involved in environmental and national and international causes.
His personal life also helped to make him popular. Harald married Sonja Haraldsen in 1968 after a long relationship and, being a commoner, the marriage was important as Sonja was also in the public eye and she was not in the same family as what it was known in European royal families then. They had two children together, Crown Prince Haakon and Princess Märtha Louise.
Harald’s early life was influenced by the Second World War. When Nazi Germany invaded Norway, the Norwegian Royal Family fled from Norway, and Harald spent part of his childhood in the United States. He returned to Norway and continued to learn and took up royal duties and eventually became heir to the throne.
His death is the end of a more than three-decade reign and starts a new chapter for the Norwegian monarchy. After Harald's death, his son, Crown Prince Haakon, automatically succeeded him and is expected to reign as King Haakon VIII.
King Harald had faced health problems in recent years. He was hospitalized in August 2026 and was treated before his condition deteriorated. The Royal Palace later said he had died peacefully at the hospital.
Norway was quick to react to the news about his death. Flags were lowered, and people gathered around Norway’s Royal Palace in Oslo to leave flowers and pay their respects. The Norwegian Armed Forces also announced ceremonial measures to pay tribute to the late monarch, including a 21-round gun salute and formal assemblies at the local units.
Modi’s message reflects a diplomatic relationship between India and Norway and the importance of interactions between leaders of the two countries. He recalls his meeting with King Harald earlier this year, and the personal impact of the official condolences can be seen in his account of the Norwegian monarch’s presence in the meeting.
India and Norway have strong cooperation in trade, investment, energy, maritime affairs, climate action, and technology. It also helped to strengthen cooperation at the highest level of the two countries with talks between leaders from each country. Modi’s tribute, therefore, is in line with the diplomatic ties that keep between New Delhi and Oslo.
The Norwegian monarchy is constitutional, so only the king is the head of state of the country, and elected political people hold power. But the monarch still serves as a symbolic figure of continuity and it is, at best, a symbol of unity during very important times and, at worst, times of crisis.
King Harald’s death has had a deep impact not only on the Royal Family but also on Norwegians who knew him as a familiar person and found him a reassuring presence. His long reign witnessed a lot of changes in Norwegian society and beyond, and his public policy was at least as much service-oriented and national unity.
Deeply saddened by the passing of His Majesty King Harald V of the Kingdom of Norway.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 28, 2026
I fondly recall meeting His Majesty during my visit to Norway earlier this year and was deeply touched by his warmth and profound sense of service to his nation.
My heartfelt condolences to… pic.twitter.com/PtySMBSVz4
For Prime Minister Modi, recalling the late King's warmth and dedication as a man with an individual, and remembering him is a tribute at a time of national grief in Norway for our country at this moment of national loss is a personal tribute. His words to Queen Sonja, the Royal Family, and the Norwegian people are symbolic of the sadness and stature of the loss of the late King and how much respect Harald was regarded with in the world.
Norway will continue to be proud of the work of King Harald V over decades of service; he brought in modernizing the monarchy, and he will continue to be remembered for his unification of the nation. For India, Modi’s message is a gesture of friendship and solidarity with Norway’s grief at this time of loss for the long-serving King.
