Europe’s oldest monarch admitted to hospital after medical examination

Europe’s longest-reigning monarch, Norway’s King Harald V, has been hospitalized after a medical examination, according to the Royal Palace. The 89-year-old monarch is dealing with fluid retention, a side effect of medication he is taking for haemolytic anaemia, a condition in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than the body can replace them. Harald was admitted to Rikshospitalet in Oslo following the examination.

The King has been receiving cortisone treatment for the blood disorder in recent weeks, which has caused fluid accumulation in his body. He is expected to take a two-week sick leave, during which time Crown Prince Haakon will serve as regent. The palace will later clarify how the leave will impact the royal family's official schedule. Harald, who ascended to the throne in 1991, is Europe’s oldest living monarch.

Health issues have been a recurring concern for the monarch in recent years. In 2024, Harald received a permanent pacemaker after falling ill during a private trip to Malaysia. The palace also announced that he would reduce the number and scale of his official engagements due to his health difficulties. Despite these challenges, Harald has consistently ruled out abdication.

His wife, Queen Sonja, is also hospitalized with heart trouble. Norway's oil output exceeded expectations in May, hitting 1.722 million barrels per day. The Norwegian parliament erupted in a rowing chant to support their football team, while a Thai princess suffered a severe blood infection.