Norway's king admitted to hospital and put on sick leave

What the report says

Norway’s royal household said King Harald V has been admitted to hospital and will take two weeks of sick leave, with Crown Prince Haakon acting as regent in the meantime. BBC World News reported that the 89-year-old monarch is being treated for fluid retention and has recently been receiving cortisone for haemolytic anaemia, a rare blood disorder that can reduce red blood cells and cause tiredness and shortness of breath.

The palace’s announcement adds to a series of health-related absences for Harald, who has reigned since January 1991 and is among Europe’s longest-serving monarchs. The BBC noted that he was previously hospitalized in Tenerife in February for infection and dehydration, and that he was fitted with a pacemaker in 2024 after falling ill while on holiday in Malaysia. Norway’s royal household also said last year that the king would reduce his public duties permanently because of his age.

The temporary handover means Haakon, 53, will carry out the king’s official responsibilities while Harald recovers. The development matters because Norway’s monarchy remains an important national institution, and the king’s health has raised recurring questions about the practical demands of an aging royal household. More broadly, the BBC’s report comes amid a difficult period for the family, which has also faced other personal and legal controversies in recent months.