King Haakon VIII has taken the throne in Norway following the death of his father, Harald V
Harald, who was on the throne for 35 years, died early on Friday at the national hospital in Oslo where he was being treated for a rare blood condition
The late king was a popular leader and is credited with modernising the Norwegian monarchy - he broke with tradition by marrying a commoner, Queen Sonja
Flowers are being laid at a memorial near the palace, and the UK's King Charles III shares his "most heartfelt condolences"
King Haakon has met with government ministers at the Royal Palace in the capital - he was seen wearing black military regalia and arrived in an Audi
This morning, newsreader Petter Oulie-Hauge announced the death of King Harald on NRK, Norway's public broadcaster, and the ascension of his son, the new king.
The announcement followed days of news about Harald's declining condition after he entered hospital on 17 August to receive treatment for a rare blood condition.
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Norway's King Harald V died peacefully in hospital at 06:35 local time on Friday (05:35 BST).
His son has become King Haakon VIII upon his father's death.
A period of national mourning has been declared, and crowds have been laying flowers outside the Royal Palace in Oslo.
Hours after the king's death, the new King Haakon and his daughter, now-Crown Princess, arrived at the palace to meet government ministers in an extraordinary council of state.
Image source, PA MediaKing Harald pictured in 2018
Felicity Baker
BBC News
King Harald had strong ties to the UK monarchy.
He was a second cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. They shared the same great-grandparents, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra - and Queen Elizabeth's grandfather, King George V, and King Harald's grandmother, Queen Maud, were siblings.
Queen Elizabeth's first state visit to a non-commonwealth country as monarch was Norway in 1955, and she would visit the country on two further separate occasions, in 1981 and 2001.
Image source, PA MediaQueen Elizabeth II and King Harald V at the Royal Palace in Norway during an official visit in 2001
Norwegian politicians have been photographed laying white roses outside Oslo's Royal Palace this morning, wearing black among crowds of mourners.
Image source, ReutersNorwegian Finance Minister and former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide and Health Minister Jan Christian Vestre outside the royal palace
Image source, ReutersNorwegian Finance Minister and former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg pays his respects
Image source, ReutersKing Haakon during the Fifa World Cup in Florida
King Haakon VIII has become the new king of Norway following the death of his father, Harald V.
Haakon is the fourth king to head Norway's modern monarchy, since it was restored in 1905 after the country gained independence from Sweden.
He worked closely with his father as he carried out royal duties, and in recent years took on more responsibilities as Harald was ill or absent.
He becomes King at a turbulent time for Norway's royal family. The monarchy is popular, but has been beset by scandal in recent years.
The new king's wife Mette-Marit has apologised for ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Her son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby, has been convicted of rape in a high-profile trial. He is appealing against the conviction.
You can read more in our story here
Image source, Det Norske KongehusetKing Haakon VIII has become the new King of Norway following the death of his father Harald V.
An official portrait of the new king has been shared by the Norwegian royal family.
Harald's successor King Haakon arrives at Royal Palace
A trumpet played out as the new King Haakon was driven into the Royal Palace in Oslo.
The king was seen dressed in military regalia in a black Audi as crowds quietly stood and watched on.
As we reported earlier the king and his daughter Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 22, have been meeting with government ministers at the palace.
Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has been seen signing a book of condolence in the Royal Palace beside a portrait of the late king and lit candles - signs of official national mourning.
He was followed by other government ministers writing also their tributes.
Image source, EPAMembers of the public have gathered outside the Royal Palace in Oslo as the extraordinary meeting of the council of state is taking place.
A royal flag has been raised from the balcony, as people watch on.
Image source, EPA
Image source, EPAFive hours after his father's death, the new King Haakon, wearing black military regalia, has greeted government ministers in the royal palace for an extraordinary council of state meeting.
He shook the hands of each around the room, all dressed in black, faces somber.
His daughter Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 22, wearing a black suit, joined her father. She is next in line to be Norway's queen after the rules of succession were changed in 1990.
Image source, Heiko Junge / NTB / AFP via Getty ImagesHarald was born on 21 February 1937 on the Skaugum estate near Oslo, more than 30 years after Norway gained its independence from Sweden and became a constitutional monarchy.
He was three when dictator Adolf Hitler ordered Norway's invasion by Nazi Germany early in World War Two.
Harald's mother fled with her children across the border to Sweden, and they travelled to the US on the invitation of President Franklin D Roosevelt.
Prince Harald returned with his family to Norway at the end of the war and completed his school and compulsory military service. He became crown prince in 1957, and studied social science, history and economics at Balliol College in Oxford from 1960 to 1962.
He ascended to the throne in January 1991 following the death of his father.
Image source, NTB / AFP via Getty ImagesHarald as a nine-month-old baby, in 1937
Norway's King Harald: A look back at the King who broke with tradition
Norway's royal house released a statement this morning announcing the death of its 89-year-old monarch.
The palace said: "It is with deep grief that we announce that His Majesty King Harald has passed away. King Harald died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet Friday 28 August at 6:35 AM."
The palace's website now features only a black banner, with a picture of the late king, honouring his life.
King Charles III, along with Queen Camilla, has released a statement mourning his "dear cousin" King Harald V, who was a second cousin of King Charles' mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
King Charles said that for 35 years, the late Norwegian monarch "served his people with unwavering dedication, guiding Norway through times of great change with warmth and humility".
The British monarch said his family joins all of Norway in remembering "a much-loved kinsman and friend whose kindness, compassion and deep sense of duty echoed from across the sea and across the decades".
He extended his condolences to Norway's Queen Sonja, who was due to celebrate her 58th wedding anniversary with King Harald tomorrow.
Image source, Dominic Lipinski/PA WireFollowing the death of King Harald V this morning, Norway has declared a time of national mourning from today until the day of his funeral, which has not yet been announced.
Flags will be flown at half-mast from royal residences, state buildings and military sites.
While professional activities and events will still be carried out, emphasis will be placed on ensuring events have a "dignified" setting - including that the death is marked with silence, and a portrait of the late king is displayed and/or that candles are lit. All non work-related social events will be cancelled or postponed.
Image source, EPAMourners lay flowers at the Palace Square in Oslo
Image source, ReutersNorway's Royal Palace lowers its flag to half-mast
Image source, ReutersPeople gather to pay their respects outside the Royal Palace in Oslo
Image source, ReutersNorway's King Harald V has died at the age of 89, having been taken to hospital last week for treatment for a rare blood condition.
The palace in Oslo said he passed away peacefully at 06:35 local time (04:35 GMT) on Friday at the national hospital in Oslo. The royal flag on the roof of the palace has been lowered to half-mast.
In the 24 hours leading up to his death, members of the royal family had visited the king, and crowds had laid flowers at the palace.
Harald was Norway's first king born in Norway since the 14th Century. He has been succeeded by his son Haakon, 53, who will hold an extraordinary council of state with the government later on Friday.
He is survived by his wife of almost 58 years, Queen Sonja, their daughter Princess Märtha Louise, their son, the new King Haakon, and six grandchildren.
