Norway’s King Harald in ‘extremely serious’ condition, palace says

What the report says

Norway’s King Harald, 89, is in hospital in Oslo and his condition has worsened to what the royal palace described as “extremely serious,” according to Al Jazeera. The king has been receiving treatment since August 17 for a blood disorder, and the palace said no further details would be provided.

The report said Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon, who has been serving as regent during his father’s illness, cancelled all official engagements. Norwegian media also reported that members of the family were at the hospital bedside, including the queen, Haakon and his wife, Mette-Marit.

Harald is Europe’s oldest reigning monarch and has been king since 1991. Al Jazeera said he was admitted to Oslo University Hospital because of fluid retention linked to cortisone treatment, after being diagnosed with haemolytic anaemia, a condition in which red blood cells are destroyed too quickly. The article added that his health problems in recent years have already limited his public duties.

The situation matters because the Norwegian monarchy has had to adjust its public schedule around the king’s health, and Haakon has temporarily taken on regent duties. In general, haemolytic anaemia can cause fatigue and shortness of breath, though no prognosis was given in the article.