Norway’s king admitted to hospital and put on sick leave
Norway's Monarch Hospitalised; Crown Prince Assumes Regency
Ninoda.com – The Norwegian royal household confirmed on Monday that King Harald V, 89, has been admitted to hospital and will observe a two-week period of sick leave. According to the palace, the monarch's admission was necessitated by fluid retention throughout his body, a condition demanding inpatient treatment.
During his absence, Crown Prince Haakon, 53, will act as regent and carry out all royal duties on his father's behalf.
A Long Reign Marked by Health Challenges
Harald V has held the Scandinavian throne since January 1991, making him one of Europe's longest-reigning sovereigns. He has publicly dismissed the prospect of abdication. In April 2024, the household announced he would undertake a "permanent reduction" to his public schedule, a decision made "out of consideration for his age."
The king has been receiving cortisone injections in recent weeks to manage haemolytic anaemia, a rare blood disorder that diminishes the body's red blood cell count and produces symptoms including fatigue and difficulty breathing.
His medical troubles extend well beyond this latest admission. In February, he was rushed to a hospital on Tenerife, Spain, after developing an infection compounded by dehydration. Earlier in 2024, following a bout of illness while holidaying in Malaysia, he received a pacemaker. Queen Sonja, too, spent time in hospital in May of this year undergoing examinations and observation linked to heart problems, the palace noted.
A Turbulent Year for the Royal Family
The monarch's and queen's health setbacks arrive amid a stretch of intense public scrutiny for Norway's royals. In March, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, wife of Haakon, appeared on national television to say she wished she had never encountered the late American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Between 2011 and 2014, the crown princess had exchanged hundreds of emails with the disgraced financier and had stayed at his Florida residence during his absences.
"It is incredibly important for me to take responsibility for not checking his background more carefully," she said.
Three months later, in June, her son from an earlier relationship, Marius Borg Høiby, was convicted of two counts of rape and handed a four-year prison sentence, placing the family once more under unwelcome public examination.
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