Norway's King Harald V has died at 89. Meanwhile, his son, Crown Prince Haakon, has succeeded him. Alongside, his wife, Mette-Marit, has become the new queen.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleNorway has entered a new royal era after the death of King Harald V at age 89. He died on August 28, 2026. It has marked the end of one of Europe's longest-serving reigns. Alongside, it began an immediate transition within the royal family. Now, Crown Prince Haakon has taken over the throne as King Haakon VIII. Meanwhile, his wife, Mette-Marit, has officially become Norway's new Queen. However, unlike her predecessors, Mette-Marit's journey to become royalty was anything but conventional.
Queen Mette-Marit was born as Mette-Marit Tjessem Hoiby in Kristiansand, Norway. However, the queen did not come from aristocratic or royal roots. Instead, she grew up in a middle-class family and spent most of her early adulthood far from the palace walls.
Long before she met the future king, Mette-Marit worked a variety of jobs. She studied on and off while working, raising a son, Marius Borg Hoiby, from her previous relationship. In fact, this same past became a major part of public debate when she began dating Crown Prince Haakon in the late 1990s.
Needless to say, many people questioned whether a single mother with a non-traditional family should join the royal family. However, Mette-Marit spoke about it directly and publicly expressed regret over certain aspects of her youth. She addressed the nation and admitted her mistake. This honest approach by the Crown Princess helped turn public criticism into admiration.
Queen Mette-Marit first met Crown Prince Haakon at Norway's famous Quart Festival in the early 1990s, but the meeting did not transpire into anything. Eventually, they met again in 1999, and this time they developed a strong bond that went on to challenge long-standing royal traditions.
When it became clear that the couple was serious about each other, they faced significant opposition from conservative voices. Many called out her background and the couple's decision to live together before marriage. Still, Crown Prince Haakon stood by her side. During that time, some reports even claimed that he was willing to give up his place in line of succession to marry the woman he loved.
Crown Prince Haakon's approach was similar to that of his father, King Harald V, who fought everyone to marry a commoner, Sonja Haraldsen. Later, they married at Oslo Cathedral on August 25, 2001, turning their controversial romance into a popular royal partnership. They welcomed two kids, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus.
At present, Queen Mette-Marit has assumed her new role at a difficult period in her life. She was diagnosed with chronic pulmonary fibrosis in 2018. For those who do not know, it is a serious disease. She underwent a successful lung transplant surgery in June 2026. Although the procedure was a success, her recovery will take at least a year. So, she is expected to do fewer public duties despite her new role.
Norway's royal family has become a topic of discussion after the country lost King Harald V. He had reigned for more than three decades following his father King Olav V's death in 1991.
King Harald was popular for his commitment to public service and made many efforts to transform the monarchy with the changing times. Despite his increasing health challenges with pacemaker installation and his latest battle with hemolytic anemia, he ensured that he continued to serve his country and abide by his oath to Norway until his last breath.
Rest in peace, King Harald V.
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