STAVANGER: King Harald V of Norway, who went into exile in the United States as a child during the Nazi occupation of his homeland and refused a string of European noblewomen in order to marry his school sweetheart, has died. He was 89. The palace announced his death Friday morning. Harald was Europe’s oldest monarch. The popular king modernized the royal house but refused to follow in the footsteps of other aging monarchs who have abdicated in recent times. His son now automatically becomes King Haakon VIII.

King Harald V of Norway remained a unifying figure in his country until the very end.

King Harald V of Norway, who went into exile in the United States as a child during the Nazi occupation of his homeland and refused a string of European noblewomen to marry his…

King Harald V of Norway has died at 89

King Harald was Europe's oldest monarch and Norway's ceremonial head of state since 1991