Norway's King Harald V waiting for guests at the Royal Palace in Oslo Norway on April 8, 2025. [AFP]
King Harald V of Norway, who died on Friday aged 89, remained a unifying figure in his country until the very end, a pillar of stability amid a string of family scandals that tarnished the final years of his reign.
On the throne since 1991, Europe's oldest reigning monarch suffered from increasing health problems in his later years, but adamantly refused to abdicate.
He was again hospitalised on August 17 in Oslo due to complications from the blood condition haemolytic anaemia, and the royal palace announced his death on Friday.
Despite limited powers as head of state, the king inspired unity in Norway, always managing to find the right thing to say in difficult times.
One such instance was after the neo-Nazi Anders Behring Breivik claimed 77 lives in twin attacks on July 22, 2011, in Norway's worst massacre since World War II.
"I firmly believe that freedom is stronger than fear. I firmly believe in an open Norwegian democracy and society," Harald said at the time.
The king also took the Scandinavian country's progressive values to heart, which he stressed in a speech marking his 25th year as monarch in 2016.