Norway’s King Harald V has died at the age of 89, the Norwegian royal palace said. He died at Oslo University Hospital at 6:35 a.m. local time on Friday. At the time of his death, he was Europe’s oldest living monarch. Harald had served as Norway’s king for 35 years after ascending the throne in 1991.

Norway is a constitutional monarchy, where the king’s powers are largely ceremonial. Harald was widely popular for his close connection with ordinary people and his role in seeking to unite the nation during crises. He was also known for supporting tolerance, inclusion and modern values, including through an address following Norway’s devastating 2011 terrorist attacks.

During World War II, Harald left Norway with his family and lived in exile in the United States as a child. He later trained in the navy and competed in sailing at Olympic level. In his final years, he was repeatedly hospitalized and developed a bacterial blood infection while receiving treatment after being taken to hospital on August 17. His son, Crown Prince Haakon, 53, has assumed the throne as King Haakon VIII.