Norway holds its breath as King Harald's health deteriorates

Norwegians have laid flowers in front of the Oslo palace as the health condition of King Harald V became "extremely serious" in hospital, according to the royal household. His wife Queen Sonja, son Crown Prince Haakon, and other family members cancelled royal engagements to stay by his bedside at Oslo University Hospital, visiting for several hours.

Haakon returned with Crown Princess Mette-Marit in the evening. The 89-year-old monarch has been at the hospital for 10 days due to a rare blood condition called haemolytic anaemia. After serving as king since 1991, Harald is Europe's oldest head of state. Haakon, 53, serves as regent while his father is hospitalized. The king has been receiving cortisone treatment for his condition, which reduces red blood cell count and causes fatigue and shortness of breath.

Oslo residents observed a somber mood, with crowds gathering in Palace Square and Norwegian public TV dedicating its schedule to the story. Despite no public statements from the royal family, their presence at the hospital conveyed the importance of the situation. King Harald's sister Princess Astrid, along with Mette-Marit's son Marius Borg Høiby, who is under house arrest during his appeal for sex abuse conviction, also visited the hospital.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre cancelled a trip to Germany to support the king and the royal family, expressing that "the whole nation is with us as we send warm thoughts to the king and the rest of the royal family."