Editing Harald V (section)

== Reign ==
On the death of his father on 17 January 1991, Harald [[The king is dead, long live the king!|succeeded]] to the Norwegian throne. He became the first Norwegian-born monarch since [[Olav IV]] died in 1387, a gap of 604 years. Harald is the sixth King of Norway to bear that name, and the first in 855 years. The five other kings who have borne the name are [[Harald Fairhair]], [[Harald Greycloak]], [[Harald Bluetooth]], [[Harald Hardrada]], and [[Harald Gille]]. Harald Bluetooth is usually not given a number in the [[List of Norwegian monarchs|Norwegian list of kings]], therefore Harald is 'only' numbered as ''Harald V''. King Harald made the decision to use his grandfather and father's royal motto, "[[List of Norwegian monarchs' mottos|Alt for Norge]]". The King also chose to continue the tradition of royal [[benediction]], a tradition that had been introduced with his [[Olav V of Norway|father]], and was consecrated together with [[Queen Sonja]] in the [[Nidaros Cathedral]] on 23 June 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kongehuset.no/artikkel.html?tid=28733&sek=27278|title=The Consecration of King Harald and Queen Sonja|website=kongehuset.no|language=no|access-date=28 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228232601/http://www.kongehuset.no/artikkel.html?tid=28733&sek=27278|archive-date=28 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The reign of King Harald has been marked by modernization and reform for the [[Norwegian Royal family]]. The King has cooperated closely with Queen Sonja and the Crown Prince in making the [[royal household]] more open to the Norwegian public and the [[Norwegian media]]. King Harald's decision to accept two more commoners into the royal family, [[Crown Princess Mette-Marit]] and [[Ari Behn]], has been interpreted as a sign of modernization and adjustment.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nrk.no/norge/_-a-si-at-vi-ikke-er-apne_-er-rett-og-slett-feil-1.12571148|title=– Å si at vi ikke er åpne, er rett og slett feil|work=NRK|access-date=29 December 2017|language=nb-NO|archive-date=3 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403001031/http://www.nrk.no/norge/_-a-si-at-vi-ikke-er-apne_-er-rett-og-slett-feil-1.12571148|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.aftenposten.no/meninger/kommentar/i/paAQW/Stanghelle-Kong-Harald-star-frem-som-mannen-som-forstar-sin-egen-tid|title=Stanghelle: "Kong Harald står frem som mannen som forstår sin egen tid"|work=Aftenposten|access-date=28 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229112459/https://www.aftenposten.no/meninger/kommentar/i/paAQW/Stanghelle-Kong-Harald-star-frem-som-mannen-som-forstar-sin-egen-tid|archive-date=29 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Under King Harald and Queen Sonja's leadership, comprehensive renovation projects on the [[Bygdøy Royal Estate]], the [[Royal Palace, Oslo|Royal Palace]], [[The Queen Sonja Art Stable|the royal stables]] and [[Oscarshall]] have also taken place. The latter three have also been opened to the public and tourists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalcourt.no/nyhet.html?tid=121732&sek=27262&scope=27248|title=The Royal Palace is open to the public|website=royalcourt.no|language=en|access-date=28 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229112526/http://www.royalcourt.no/nyhet.html?tid=121732&sek=27262&scope=27248|archive-date=29 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Together with Queen Sonja, the king has also for decades attempted to establish a [[palace museum]] in [[Oslo]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aftenposten.no/article/ap-lmAL.html|title=Kongehusekspert Kjell Arne Totland skriver: Gi kongeparet et permanent slottsmuseum|last=Totl|first=Kjell Arne|website=Aftenposten|date=19 July 2015|language=nb-NO|access-date=27 December 2018}}{{dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrk.no/ytring/pa-tide-med-et-slottsmuseum-1.14351475|title=På tide med et slottsmuseum|last=Moxnes|first=Agnes|date=27 December 2018|website=NRK|language=nb-NO|access-date=27 December 2018|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108113638/https://www.nrk.no/ytring/pa-tide-med-et-slottsmuseum-1.14351475|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Constitutional role ===
{{Main|Monarchy of Norway}}[[File:Harald of Norway.jpg|thumb|King Harald, [[Laura Bush]], [[George W. Bush]], and Queen Sonja, 2005]]
[[File:Harald V of Norway and Mauricio Macri March 2018.jpg|alt=|thumb|King Harald V with [[Mauricio Macri]], [[President of Argentina]] in [[Buenos Aires]], 2018]]
While the Constitution vests the King with executive power, he is not politically responsible for exercising it. This is in accordance not only with provisions of the Constitution, but with conventions established since the definitive establishment of parliamentary rule in Norway in 1884. His acts are not valid without the countersignature of a member of the [[Council of State (Norway)|Council of State]] (cabinet)–usually the [[Prime Minister of Norway|Prime Minister]]–and proceedings of the Council of State are signed by all of its members. Although he nominally has the power of veto, no Norwegian king has exercised it since the dissolution of the union with Sweden in 1905. Even then, the King's veto power is suspensive, not absolute as is the case with British monarchs. A royal veto can be overridden if the Storting passes the same bill following a general election.

While the Constitution nominally vests the King with the power to appoint the government, in practice it is impossible for a King to keep a government in office against the will of [[Storting|Parliament]]. By convention, the King appoints the leader of the parliamentary bloc with the majority as prime minister. When the parliamentary situation is unclear, the King relies on the advice of the [[President of the Storting|President of Parliament]] and the sitting prime minister. Unlike most constitutional monarchs, Harald does not have the power to dissolve Parliament; the Constitution does not allow snap elections.

The King meets with the Council of State at the [[Royal Palace, Oslo|Royal Palace]] every Friday. He also has weekly meetings with the Prime Minister and the [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Norway)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]]. He receives foreign envoys, and formally opens parliament every October delivering a [[speech from the throne]] during each opening. He travels extensively throughout Norway and makes official [[List of state visits made and received by Harald V of Norway|state visits]] to other countries, as well as receiving and hosting guests.

Until 2012, the King of Norway was, according to the constitution, the formal head of the [[Church of Norway]]. The constitutional amendment of 21 May 2012 made the King no longer the formal head, but he is still required to be of the Evangelical Lutheran religion.

On 8 May 2018, the King's [[Constitution of Norway|constitutional]] status as [[Sacred|holy]] was dissolved, while leaving his [[sovereign immunity]] intact.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrk.no/norge/fra-tirsdag-er-ikke-kongen-lenger-hellig-1.14039929|work=[[NRK]]|agency=[[Norsk Telegrambyrå|NTB]]|date=7 May 2018|title=Fra tirsdag er ikke kongen lenger hellig|language=no|trans-title=From Tuesday, the king is no longer holy|access-date=8 May 2018|archive-date=14 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514130751/https://www.nrk.no/norge/fra-tirsdag-er-ikke-kongen-lenger-hellig-1.14039929|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Sporting role ===
In 1994, both the King and Crown Prince Haakon played roles during the opening ceremony of the [[1994 Winter Olympics|Lillehammer Olympics]]. The King opened the games, while the Crown Prince [[List of people who have lit the Olympic Cauldron|lit the cauldron]], paying tribute to both the King and his [[Olav V of Norway|grandfather]] as Olympians. The King has also represented Norway at opening ceremonies of Olympic Games, among them [[2006 Winter Olympics opening ceremony|Torino]] and [[2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony|Beijing]]. However, he was not present in [[2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony|Vancouver]]; the Crown Prince attended instead, with the King and Queen attending later in the games.

With his sailing crew he won World Championship bronze, silver and gold medals, in 1988, 1982 and 1987, respectively. In July 2005, the King and his crew aboard the royal sailboat ''Fram XV'' won the gold medal at the European Championships in Sweden. In the 2007 World Championship the King came in sixth place.<ref>[http://www.sb.no/article/20070818/NTBS/2098715440 Sandefjords Blad on the King's performance in the World Championship] {{in lang|no}} Retrieved 10 September 2007. {{dead link|date=December 2015}}</ref>

=== Recent years ===
[[File:Sametingsåpning - 51610815769.jpg|alt=|thumb|King Harald V in October 2021 at the opening of [[Sámi Parliament of Norway|Sámi Parliament]] [[Legislative session|session]] of 2021–22]]
King Harald's leadership during Norwegian national crises, such as the [[New Year's Day Storm]] (1992), [[2011 Norway attacks|July 2011 massacre]], [[2020 Gjerdrum landslide]], and particularly the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Norway|COVID-19 pandemic]] (January 2020 to March 2022), have been met with both national and international acclaim.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/world/europe/king-harald-of-norway-proves-mettle-with-response-to-july-22-deaths.html|title=King Harald of Norway Proves Mettle With Response to July 22 Deaths|last=Erlanger|first=Steven|date=15 October 2011|work=The New York Times|access-date=24 January 2018|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=20 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820080146/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/world/europe/king-harald-of-norway-proves-mettle-with-response-to-july-22-deaths.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/44218860/ns/world_news-europe/t/norway-remembers-killed-massacre/#.WmhwPedrzIU|title=Norway remembers 77 killed in massacre|work=MSNBC|last1=Rising|first1=Malin|date=21 August 2011|access-date=24 January 2018|language=en|archive-date=30 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830040820/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/44218860/ns/world_news-europe/t/norway-remembers-killed-massacre/#.WmhwPedrzIU|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/terrorangrepet-22-juli-politikk-og-samfunn/kongen-om-terrorangrepet-vaare-tanker-gaar-til-ofrene/a/10080609/|title=Kongen om terrorangrepet: – Våre tanker går til ofrene|work=VG|access-date=24 January 2018|language=no|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125015519/https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/terrorangrepet-22-juli-politikk-og-samfunn/kongen-om-terrorangrepet-vaare-tanker-gaar-til-ofrene/a/10080609/|archive-date=25 January 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/hans-aller-beste-tale/63586924|title=- Hans aller beste tale|date=21 August 2011|work=Dagbladet|last1=Nyfløt|first1=Hilda|access-date=24 January 2018|language=no|archive-date=21 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021035045/https://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/hans-aller-beste-tale/63586924|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2015, he became the world's first reigning monarch to visit [[Antarctica]], specifically the [[Dependencies of Norway|Norwegian dependency]] [[Queen Maud Land]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thelocal.no/20150210/king-harald-to-see-antarctic-coast-that-bears-his-name|work=[[The Local]]|title=King Harald visits Antarctic namesake|date=11 February 2015|access-date=15 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215122659/http://www.thelocal.no/20150210/king-harald-to-see-antarctic-coast-that-bears-his-name|archive-date=15 February 2015|url-status=dead}}<br />{{cite news|url=http://www.newsinenglish.no/2015/02/11/sun-shines-for-king-in-antarctica/|website=newsinenglish.no|title=Sun shines for king in Antarctica|date=11 February 2015|access-date=15 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214050319/http://www.newsinenglish.no/2015/02/11/sun-shines-for-king-in-antarctica/|archive-date=14 February 2015|url-status=dead}}<br />{{cite news|url=http://www.norwaypost.no/index.php/news/latest-news/30607|title=King Harald begins Antarctic visit|work=The Norway Post|agency=NRK/Aftenposten|date=11 February 2015|access-date=15 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215032649/http://www.norwaypost.no/index.php/news/latest-news/30607|archive-date=15 February 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2016, King Harald V competed with a team for the sailing World Championships on [[Lake Ontario]], [[Toronto]]. The king came second in the classic fleet category.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/571945b537013bf7bb9e6f17/t/57d1c2b2d482e9f1f108273b/1473364658906/cc-2016-na-results.pdf|title=North American Eight Metre Association|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808075004/https://static1.squarespace.com/static/571945b537013bf7bb9e6f17/t/57d1c2b2d482e9f1f108273b/1473364658906/cc-2016-na-results.pdf|archive-date=8 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was dubbed "Sailor-King" by Canada's ''[[National Post]]'' as he slept on board his yacht ''Sira''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/norways-sailor-king-why-harald-v-has-been-sleeping-on-a-yacht-moored-on-torontos-waterfront|title=Norway's sailor king: Why Harald V has been sleeping on a yacht moored on Toronto's waterfront|work=National Post|access-date=30 May 2017|language=en}}</ref>

In 2016 Harald, in a speech marking 25 years on the throne, sought to unify Norwegians coming from [[Afghanistan]] and [[Pakistan]] as well as "girls who love girls, boys who love boys and girls and boys who love each other."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsinenglish.no/2016/09/02/the-kings-speech-struck-a-chord/|title=The king's speech struck a chord|date=2 September 2016|access-date=7 August 2021|archive-date=7 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807192348/https://www.newsinenglish.no/2016/09/02/the-kings-speech-struck-a-chord/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since the start of the twenty-first century, King Harald has been unable to perform his duties as sovereign due to ill health on a few occasions: from December 2003 to mid-April 2004 due to urinary [[bladder cancer]], from April to early June 2005 due to [[aortic stenosis]], and in 2020 due to cardiac surgery (replacement of a [[heart valve]]). Crown Prince Haakon served as the country's [[regent]] on these occasions, including giving the [[Speech from the throne|King's Speech]] at the [[State opening of parliament]] in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stortinget.no/no/Hva-skjer-pa-Stortinget/Nyhetsarkiv/Hva-skjer-nyheter/2020-2021/det-165.-storting-er-apnet/|title=Det 165. storting er åpnet|website=stortinget.no|language=no|date=12 October 2020|access-date=31 December 2022}}</ref>

When the King and Queen turned 80 years old in 2017, the King decided to open the former royal stables to the public as a gift to his wife, the Queen. The new venue was named [[The Queen Sonja Art Stable]] and is the first institution owned by the royal family which is permanently open to the public.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.royalcourt.no/nyhet.html?tid=156408&sek=27262|title=The Art Stable is open|website=royalcourt.no|language=en|access-date=28 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229112434/https://www.royalcourt.no/nyhet.html?tid=156408&sek=27262|archive-date=29 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> King Harald was made [[Name of the Year]] by the newspaper ''[[Verdens Gang|VG]]'' in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/i/P3jpp0/kongebiograf-kong-harald-blir-mer-populaer-jo-eldre-han-blir|title=Kongebiograf: Kong Harald blir mer populær jo eldre han blir|access-date=21 February 2018|language=no|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221114959/https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/i/P3jpp0/kongebiograf-kong-harald-blir-mer-populaer-jo-eldre-han-blir|archive-date=21 February 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 17 January 2021, King Harald celebrated 30 years on the Norwegian throne.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.royalcourt.no/fotoalbum.html?tid=186253&sek=28410&kategori=112482|title=King and Queen for 30 years|access-date=17 January 2021|archive-date=1 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701004102/https://www.royalcourt.no/fotoalbum.html?tid=186253&sek=28410&kategori=112482|url-status=live}}</ref> On 11 September 2022, he visited Denmark to celebrate [[Golden Jubilee of Margrethe II|Margrethe II's Golden Jubilee]].<ref>{{cite web|title=50 år på den danske tronen|url=https://www.kongehuset.no/nyhet.html?tid=215577&sek=26939|publisher=The Royal House of Norway|access-date=4 March 2024|language=Norwegian}}</ref> Harald was hospitalized in August 2022 with a fever, being again admitted to hospital that December for an infection. He was also hospitalized for an infection once again in May 2023 just before [[Constitution Day (Norway)|Constitution Day]]. On 15 September 2023 he also attended the celebrations of [[Golden Jubilee of Carl XVI Gustaf|Carl XVI Gustaf's Golden Jubilee]] in [[Stockholm]], Sweden. In October 2023, Harald tested positive for [[COVID-19|coronavirus]], having previously tested positive for the disease in March 2022.<ref name="Health">{{cite web|title=Norway's 86-year-old king tests positive for COVID-19 and has mild symptoms|date=22 October 2023|url=https://apnews.com/article/norway-king-harald-covid-80763f7263f5ad436217f0926ad2d1b6|agency=Associated Press|access-date=24 October 2023}}</ref> Since the [[Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II|death of Elizabeth II]] in 2022, Harald is Europe's oldest hereditary reigning monarch, at the age of {{Age in years|1937|2|21}}.<ref>{{Cite web|title=King of Norway has pacemaker fitted after falling ill on holiday|url=https://news.sky.com/story/king-of-norway-has-pacemaker-fitted-after-falling-ill-on-holiday-13085125|access-date=2 March 2024|publisher=Sky News|language=en}}</ref> Since 9 September 2024 he is the oldest monarch in over 1,150 years of Norwegian monarchy, living longer than his father [[Olav V of Norway|Olav V]], who died at the age of 87 years and 199 days.

On 31 January 2024, the royal palace announced that King Harald was on "sick leave" until 2 February due to a respiratory infection.<ref>{{cite web|title=Norway's aging king, Harald V, is on sick leave because of a respiratory infection|date=31 January 2024|url=https://apnews.com/article/norway-king-sick-harald-infection-645b8803d58c019615f2820b415a565a|agency=Associated Press|access-date=31 January 2024}}</ref> On 27 February, while on holiday in [[Malaysia]], he was again hospitalized on the resort island of [[Langkawi]]; he was admitted to the royal suites of Sultanah Maliha Hospital, a government hospital and the only major hospital on the island, and had a temporary [[pacemaker]] implanted due to a low heart rate.<ref>{{cite web|title=Scandinavian Airlines medevac plane lands in Malaysian island where Norwegian king is hospitalized|date=March 2024|url=https://apnews.com/article/malaysia-norway-king-medevac-plane-f5df37bb5188e9651b5dd0c8637b7653|agency=Associated Press|access-date=1 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/norways-king-has-pacemaker-implanted-malaysia-after-falling-ill-holiday-2024-03-02/|title=Norway's king has pacemaker implanted in Malaysia after falling ill on holiday|agency=Reuters|date=2 March 2024|access-date=2 March 2024}}</ref> During his hospitalization, he was accorded protection and security similar to that of a [[Monarchies of Malaysia|reigning state ruler of Malaysia]]. He was discharged on 3 March and was transported back to Norway on a medical evacuation flight to continue his recovery in a hospital, during which he would be on sick leave for two weeks.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68461542|title=Norway king returns home after Malaysia hospital admission|publisher=BBC|date=3 March 2024|access-date=3 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/norways-king-harald-will-need-permanent-pacemaker-royal-court-says-2024-03-04/|title=Norway's king to receive permanent pacemaker for his heart|agency=Reuters|date=4 March 2024|access-date=5 March 2024}}</ref> He received a permanent pacemaker on 12 March.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/norway-king-pacemaker-malaysia-fd917bf1ce3b289dbd0c23b230ebce08|title=Europe's oldest monarch, the ailing King Harald V of Norway, gets a permanent pacemaker|agency=Associated Press|date=12 March 2024|access-date=12 March 2024}}</ref> Two days later, he was discharged but remained on sick leave.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/world/900563/norway-s-king-harald-has-been-discharged-from-hospital-after-getting-pacemaker/story/|title=Norway's King Harald has been discharged from hospital after getting pacemaker|work=GMA News|date=14 March 2024|access-date=14 March 2024}}</ref> He resumed his duties on 22 April, with the royal household saying that his official activities would be reduced in light of his condition.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/harald-king-norway-malaysia-pacemaker-sick-leave-oldest-b95baf0cb3a7ded70868b125a061b892|title=Norway's King Harald, Europe's oldest monarch, is back at work after pacemaker implants|agency=Associated Press|date=22 April 2024|access-date=22 April 2024}}</ref>

=== In popular culture ===
In 2025 [[Amazon Prime Video]] published period drama ''The Commoner'', which tells the story of the fight of then Crown Prince Harald and [[Queen Sonja of Norway|Sonja Haraldsen]] for their right to marry, Harald V is portrayed by Sindre Strand Offerdal.