OSLO — The Norwegian royal household announced that King Harald V is in an extremely serious medical condition. Family members have assembled at his hospital bedside in Oslo as his health continues to deteriorate.
Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon immediately cleared their schedules of all official duties to be with the monarch. They were joined at Oslo University Hospital by Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Princess Astrid, according to local media reports.
The 89-year-old sovereign has spent more than a week admitted to the medical facility. Physicians have been treating him for haemolytic anaemia, a rare medical issue that results in a depleted red blood cell count and causes severe fatigue alongside shortness of breath. Medical teams have recently administered cortisone treatments to manage the illness.
As Europe's oldest reigning monarch, King Harald has held the throne since 1991. His 53-year-old son, Crown Prince Haakon, has stepped in as regent to handle state affairs while the king remains on medical leave.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre issued a public statement expressing national solidarity. He noted that the entire country is offering warm thoughts and support to the king and the wider royal household during this difficult period.
The monarch has experienced a series of physical setbacks in recent years, prompting him to gradually reduce his public engagements. During a holiday in Malaysia in 2024, he contracted an infection that necessitated the surgical implantation of a pacemaker.
This medical crisis arrives during an exceptionally difficult year for the Norwegian monarchy. Crown Princess Mette-Marit underwent a lung transplant in June following a long-term battle with pulmonary fibrosis, a rare condition she was first diagnosed with eight years prior.
That surgical procedure followed closely on the heels of a criminal trial involving the crown princess's son, Marius Borg Høiby. The 29-year-old, who is not a member of the royal family, was sentenced to a four-year prison term after being convicted of two counts of rape. He maintained his innocence regarding the principal accusations and plans to challenge the verdict.
Earlier in the year, public scrutiny also fell on Crown Princess Mette-Marit following the publication of documents detailing her past interactions with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. She subsequently addressed her historical three-year association with Epstein, acknowledging poor judgment and expressing deep regret in a televised interview.
Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC News. Read the original report at BBC News.
