Norway’s royal family gathers at King Harald’s bedside as his condition worsens

King Harald V of Norway is seriously ill in a hospital, the royal household confirmed. His wife, Queen Sonja, and son, Crown Prince Haakon, have canceled all public engagements and are by his side at Oslo University Hospital along with other royals. At 89 years old, King Harald has been in the hospital for over a week due to a rare blood disorder called haemolytic anaemia.

As Europe's longest-serving monarch since 1991, Crown Prince Haakon, aged 53, has been acting as regent while his father recovers. The royal family arrived at the hospital on Thursday morning, accompanied by Queen Mette-Marit and her son, Marius Borg Høiby. Princess Astrid, Harald's sister, is also present according to Norwegian reports.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has canceled a trip to Germany for a meeting with Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The entire nation supports the king and the royal family, he said. The public has also started leaving flowers at Oslo Palace Square. Health issues have forced the king to reduce his duties in recent years. In 2024, he received a pacemaker after falling ill during a trip to Malaysia.

The Norwegian royal family has had a difficult year in 2026 with multiple health crises. Crown Princess Mette-Marit received a lung transplant after being diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, while Høiby, 29, was sentenced to four years in prison for rape, though he denies the most serious charges. Høiby, four years younger than Crown Prince Haakon, has not been a royal figure himself.

Earlier this year, details emerged of Mette-Marit's frequent contact with the late Jeffrey Epstein, for which she later apologized for her poor judgment.