Norway’s King Harald V’s health has taken a turn for the worse, according to the palace, as he remains hospitalized with a bacterial infection in his bloodstream. The 89-year-old monarch has been receiving antibiotics and has responded to treatment, despite the deterioration in his condition. He will remain on leave from royal duties until further notice.
The king’s son, Crown Prince Haakon, has been serving as regent while his father is on leave. King Harald has been treated for a rare blood condition, haemolytic anaemia, and was fitted with a pacemaker in 2024 after falling ill on holiday in Malaysia. The Norwegian royal family has faced a challenging year, with Crown Princess Mette-Marit receiving a lung transplant in June.
- King Harald V’s health has worsened due to a bacterial infection in his bloodstream.
- The monarch has been receiving antibiotics and has responded to treatment.
- Crown Prince Haakon has been serving as regent while his father is on leave.
- The Norwegian royal family has faced a challenging year, with Crown Princess Mette-Marit receiving a lung transplant in June.
Norway’s Royal Household Statement
The palace announced that King Harald V’s condition has worsened, but he has responded to treatment. “The king’s health has worsened, but he has responded to treatment,” the palace said in a statement. The monarch will remain at Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, and on leave from royal duties until further notice.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s Recent Challenges
Crown Princess Mette-Marit has faced her own health challenges, receiving a lung transplant in June after being diagnosed with a rare form of pulmonary fibrosis in 2018. She has also apologized for her friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, saying “I wished I had never met him.” The royal family has been dealing with the fallout from her association with Epstein, as well as the conviction of her son Marius Borg Høiby for rape.
Oslo University Hospital’s Care
King Harald V is being treated at Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, where he has been receiving antibiotics for his bacterial infection. The hospital has been providing the monarch with the necessary care, and the palace has announced that he will remain there until further notice. For more information on the royal family and their health updates, visit Watan News.
