Norway’s King Harald, 89, admitted to hospital for the second time this year
Updated . First published
Norway’s King Harald V has been admitted to hospital with a serious blood disorder, the Royal House has confirmed.
The 89-year-old, who has been on Norway’s throne for 35 years and is Europe’s oldest-serving monarch, will be absent from official duties for at least two weeks, according to a statement shared early on Tuesday morning.
King Harald V, pictured on a tour of Norway in late May, has been admitted to hospital for the second time this year, the Royal House has announced. The Royal House of Norway
It is the second time this year that the ageing king has been admitted to hospital and the latest in a long series of health issues.
In a statement, the Royal House said the monarch had been receiving cortisone to treat the blood disease hemolytic anaemia in recent weeks. But the cortisone has now caused complications.
“This has led to fluid accumulation in the body that requires treatment in hospital,” the palace said.
Hemolytic anaemia is a disorder in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be made. If left untreated, it can lead to serious health issues including heart failure.
The king is now being cared for in the National Hospital in Oslo. His son, Crown Prince Haakon, will act as regent for the next fortnight.
In June, the king’s daughter-in-law Crown Princess Mette-Marit, received a lung transplant at the National Hospital. The 52-year-old was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018 and was put on the transplant waiting list just days before her life-saving surgery.
The couple’s eldest daughter and second-in-line to the throne, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 22, returned from Sydney to be with her mother.
King Harald V has been Norway’s monarch for 35 years and in February he turned 89. His heir is Crown Prince Haakon followed by Princess Ingrid Alexandra. Ola Vatn/The Royal House of Norway
The princess had moved to Australia to study a three-year degree at Sydney University last year but has since transferred to the University of Oslo as an exchange student, with her future in Sydney up in the air.
This year has been a challenging time for Norway’s royal family, which has found itself dealing with multiple health issues and the criminal trial of the crown princess’ son from a previous relationship.
In February, just four days after King Harald turned 89, the king was admitted to hospital in Tenerife for an infection in his leg. The king was on holiday in Spain with his wife Queen Sonja when he fell ill.
He spent two days in hospital and returned to Norway soon after.
The king’s doctor flew to Spain to assess the situation and said the monarch had “responded well to treatment and recovered quickly” after being admitted to hospital suffering from an infection in one of his legs and dehydration.
“When people of almost 90 years old are admitted with an infection, it is serious,” The king’s personal doctor, Bjørn BendzBendz said.
King Harald and Queen Sonja, far left, have both had heart issues recently while Crown Princess Mette-Marit, second from right, had a lung transplant in June. Her eldest son Marius Borg Høiby, middle, was found guilty of rape in June. Rune Hellestad/Getty
In April 2024, King Harald reduced his workload due to his age and his declining health after he had surgery to install a pacemaker.
But he actually increased his diary last year, carrying out more official engagements than expected.
His wife Queen Sonja, who is 88, has also suffered heart issues in recent months.
Princess Ingrid Alexandra, who is second-in-line to the throne, started at the University of Oslo last week on exchange from Sydney University. The Royal House of Norway
Crown Prince Haakon is next in line for Norway’s throne and, when the time comes, Princess Ingrid Alexandra will make history by becoming Norway’s first queen regnant in more than 600 years.
The crown prince has been out of the spotlight since his wife’s transplant, choosing to step away from public life to help care for Mette-Marit at the family’s private estate, Skaugum.
But his father’s hospitalisation will force the crown prince back to official duties.
King Harald has suffered numerous health issues in the past few years, handing over many duties to his son the crown prince. Getty
Last week, the Royal House said Princess Ingrid Alexandra and her younger brother Prince Sverre Magnus, 20, would be called on to step in for the king and queen, and crown prince couple, when needed.
But, the palace said, “both the princess’s and the prince’s most important task will be to study”.
The Royal House is also dealing with the aftermath of the criminal trial of Marius Borg Høiby, who was found guilty of rape and assault in June.
Last week, the 29-year-old appeared in court asking to be released from home detention where he’s been for the past month. He is staying at Skaugum and is being tracked with an ankle monitor.
During his brief court appearance last Monday, Høiby was told he must remain under house arrest for the next month after a court denied his latest bid for freedom.
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