Norway's king admitted to hospital and put on sick leave

Norway's 89-year-old King Harald V has been admitted to a hospital and will be on sick leave for two weeks, according to the royal household. The monarch has been battling a rare blood condition called haemolytic anaemia, which reduces the number of red blood cells in the body, causing fatigue and shortness of breath. His admission to the hospital is due to fluid retention in the body, which requires hospital treatment. Crown Prince Haakon, aged 53, will serve as regent during his father's absence.

In April 2024, King Harald announced he would reduce his public engagements due to his age. He ascended to the Scandinavian country's throne in January 1991 and has ruled out abdicating. In February, the king was hospitalized on the Spanish island of Tenerife due to an infection and dehydration. In 2024, he received a pacemaker after falling ill during a holiday in Malaysia.

Queen Sonja was also admitted to the hospital in May 2024 for examinations and observation due to heart problems. The king and queen's health issues follow a challenging period for the Norwegian royals. In March, Crown Princess Mette-Marit expressed regret for meeting late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with whom she exchanged hundreds of emails between 2011 and 2014. Her son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby, was convicted of two counts of rape in June and sentenced to four years in prison.