Harald V (21 February 21st, 1937 — August 28th, 2026) was King of Norway from 17 January 1991 until his death in 2026. A member of the House of Glücksburg, Harald was the third child and only son of King Olav V of Norway and Princess Märtha of Sweden. He was second in the line of succession at the time of his birth, behind his father. In 1940, as a result of the German occupation during World War II, the royal family went into exile. Harald spent part of his childhood in Sweden and the United States. He returned to Norway in 1945 and later studied for periods at the University of Oslo, the Norwegian Military Academy, and Balliol College, Oxford. An active sportsman, Harald represented Norway in sailing at the 1964, 1968, and 1972 Olympic Games, and later became patron of World Sailing. Following the death of his paternal grandfather King Haakon VII in 1957, Harald became crown prince as his father became King Olav V. He married Sonja Haraldsen in 1968; their relationship was initially controversial due to her status as a commoner. They had two children, Märtha Louise and Haakon. In 1990, when his father's health declined, Harald became regent and took most of the powers of the monarchy while Olav remained the de jure monarch. Following his father's death in 1991, Harald ascended to the throne. He was the first Norwegian-born monarch to inherit the throne since Olav IV in 1380, a span of over 610 years. During his reign, Harald suffered from several health issues, with his son acting as regent several times between 2003 and 2026. He became Norway's oldest reigning monarch in 2024, surpassing his father. Following the death of Elizabeth II, his paternal second cousin, in 2022, he became Europe's oldest reigning monarch. Harald died in 2026 in Oslo, aged 89, and was succeeded by his son Haakon VIII.