King Harald V of Norway has died

King Harald V of Norway has died at the age of 89 at Oslo's National Hospital, where he was admitted last week with a rare blood disorder, the royal palace said.

The royal flag over the palace has been lowered to half-mast. The day before, members of the royal family visited the monarch, and people in Oslo laid flowers at the palace.

Harald was the first king born in Norway in six centuries. He reigned for 35 years and will be remembered as a popular, reforming monarch who modernised the institution.

The new king is his 53-year-old son Haakon.