King of Norway's health has worsened, palace says

What the report says

Norway’s King Harald V has seen his condition worsen while he remains in hospital in Oslo, where he is being treated with antibiotics for a bloodstream bacterial infection, the palace said. BBC World News reported that the 89-year-old monarch is still responding to treatment, but will stay at Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, and remain on leave from royal duties until further notice.

Harald, who has been king since 1991, was admitted to hospital and placed on sick leave a week earlier. During his absence, Crown Prince Haakon, 53, has been acting as regent. The palace also noted that the king has recently been treated with cortisone for haemolytic anaemia, a rare blood condition that can reduce red blood cells and cause tiredness and shortness of breath.

The reported health setback comes after earlier signs that the palace was trying to ease the king’s workload. In April 2024, Norway’s royal household said he would reduce public engagements because of his age, and he had previously received a pacemaker after becoming ill while on holiday in Malaysia. The latest update adds to a difficult period for the royal family, although the BBC’s report focused mainly on the king’s current hospitalization and the temporary transfer of duties.