Norway's king admitted to hospital and put on sick leave
The 89-year-old - one of Europe's longest-serving monarchs - is suffering from a rare blood condition.
Norway's King Harald V has been admitted to the hospital and will be on sick leave for two weeks, the royal household announced on Monday. The 89-year-old monarch, one of Europe's longest-serving rulers, has been receiving cortisone treatment for a rare blood condition called haemolytic anaemia. This condition reduces the number of red blood cells in the body, leading to fatigue and shortness of breath.
The palace stated that King Harald was admitted due to fluid retention in his body, which requires hospital treatment. Crown Prince Haakon, aged 53, will assume regency duties while his father is on sick leave. In April 2024, King Harald announced a permanent reduction in his public engagements due to his age. He ascended the throne in January 1991 and has ruled out abdication.
In February, King Harald was admitted to a hospital on the Spanish island of Tenerife due to an infection and dehydration. In 2024, he was fitted with a pacemaker after falling ill on a holiday in Malaysia. Queen Sonja was also admitted to the hospital in May this year for heart exams, while Crown Princess Mette-Marit expressed regret over her communications with late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
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