Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks, delivered by Chef de Cabinet Earle Courtenay Rattray, at the General Assembly’s tribute to the memory of His Majesty King Harald V of Norway, in New York today:
Today, we gather to honour the life and legacy of King Harald V of Norway. Here at the United Nations, it is fitting to recall that, before he became King, he was a child touched directly by war.
At the age of three, Prince Harald was forced to leave Norway. Together with his mother and sisters, he fled the occupied country and spent much of the Second World War in exile in the United States. The experience remained with him throughout his life.
Having suffered the pain of separation from home, the horrors of conflict and the value of protection, solidarity and hope, he developed a keen understanding of the challenges others faced. This profound sense of empathy was reflected in the compassion he showed to those experiencing hardship.
He understood that, behind every statistic, was a human being; behind every refugee, a family; and behind every vulnerable child, a future that deserves protection.
As King, Harald V became a deeply respected and unifying figure for the people of Norway. He combined dignity with humility, tradition with accessibility and a profound sense of duty with genuine warmth. He championed the well-being of children and young people, inclusion and social cohesion, and the protection of the environment for future generations.
These were not simply causes that he supported. They were values he lived — shaped by experience and expressed through service. King Harald also understood that solidarity does not stop at national borders.
Under his reign, Norway strengthened its role as a trusted humanitarian partner, a supporter of peace efforts and a principled advocate for people affected by conflict. Norway's close partnership with the United Nations reflects these same principles: respect for human dignity, commitment to solidarity and faith in international cooperation.
I had the privilege of meeting His Majesty in 2018 during my visit to Oslo. King Harald received me at the Royal Palace together with Crown Prince Haakon. I remember a man of quiet confidence, deep humanity and remarkable generosity of spirit.
Today, we mourn the passing of a remarkable leader. But, we also remember the young prince who experienced exile and war, and the man who returned to dedicate his life to his country and its people. His journey carries an enduring lesson.
King Harald V understood the value of peace because he had known conflict, the importance of belonging because he had experienced separation, and the necessity of solidarity because his own family had once depended upon it.
These lessons informed his leadership and helped define his legacy. Today, our thoughts are with His Majesty King Haakon VIII, Her Majesty Queen Sonja, the Royal Family and with the people of Norway.
May the memory of King Harald V inspire us to uphold human dignity, strengthen solidarity and protect the most vulnerable. And may we work together to build a world in which no child is forced to flee home because of war.