Following his passing on August 28 at the age of 89, the Royal House of Norway has paid a heartfelt tribute to the memory of King Harald V by sharing a never-before-seen photo from his younger years.
In it, he appears handsome and smiling, with the strong presence that always defined him. These beautiful snapshots offer a glimpse of the monarch in his younger years, because “for many people, King Harald became known as the ‘Sports King’,” the palace shared alongside the images showing him in enviable physical shape. The monarch himself summed up his commitment to sports in 2017: “Fortunately, sports are such an important part of Norway that they also become a natural part of a king’s work.”
Over the decades, King Harald was a constant presence at the legendary Holmenkollen event, Norwegian national championships, World Championships and Olympic Games, reflecting his deep passion for and knowledge of sports. King Harald himself was a high-level sailor who had the great honor of carrying the Norwegian flag at the opening ceremony of the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games. His sailing career included many memorable achievements: in 1987, he and his crew were crowned world champions aboard the sailboat “Fram X,” and in 2005 they claimed the title of European champions with “Fram XV,” a passion that led him to compete in national and international regattas until 2022.
© –The Olympic world’s tribute to the King
After his death, the sports world came together to honor him. Quanhai Li, president of World Sailing, the organization for which the King served as honorary president after having led the Norwegian Sailing Federation in the 1970s, shared some moving words in his memory: “His Majesty King Harald V had a commanding presence on the water, where he raced alongside several generations of sailors, representing both his country and his sport with dignity and distinction.”
© DON EMMERT“His commitment is a powerful reminder of the unique camaraderie that defines our sport, and everyone at World Sailing is deeply grateful for the support he gave us throughout his time as honorary president. His Majesty’s legacy will remain forever etched in this sport and in the hearts of sailors around the world. He will be deeply missed.”
© Alexander HassensteinFor its part, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued a statement expressing its sorrow: “The IOC is deeply saddened by the death of His Majesty King Harald V of Norway, a three-time Olympic sailor and Norway’s flag bearer at the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games.”
© Getty ImagesA great supporter of the Olympic Movement, King Harald V declared two editions of the Games open in Lillehammer: the Olympic Winter Games in 1994 and the Winter Youth Olympic Games in 2016. His legacy will continue to inspire generations across the Olympic world. Our deepest condolences go to his entire family and to the people of Norway.”
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