An urgent health update has been issued by the palace.
Royal Palace in Oslo (Image: Getty)
Norwegian King Harald was admitted to hospital with a blood disorder as the Royal Family in Oslo issued an urgent health update. A statement reads: “The King has been treated with cortisone for the blood disease hemolytic anaemia in recent weeks. This has led to fluid accumulation in the body that requires treatment in hospital.”
“The King is on sick leave for two weeks. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is Regent during this period. We will return to the consequences this will have for the Royal House’s official program.”
Norwegian King Harald has been hospitalised. (Image: Getty)
The 89-year-old is the oldest reigning monarch in Europe and previously visited the hospital just 10 days ago for a “planned checkup and follow-up with a doctor, and he was driven in his own car”.
He was also hospitalised in February, mere days after his birthday, while on holiday with Queen Sonja ain Tenerife. He was treated for an infection and dehydration, and kept for to days before returning to Norway.
In 2024 during a visit to Malaysia, he was admitted to hospital after his heartrate dropped dangerously low. He was fitted with a temporary pacemaker before travelling back to Norway to receive a permanent one.
King Harald became Crown Prince in 1957 after his grandfather, King Haakon VII, died. He married Sonja in 1968 before becoming king in 1991 following the death of his father, King Olav.
He is also the third-longest reigning monach in Europe after being on the throne for over 35 years.
King Harald stands just behind King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, who became king in 1973, and Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein, who became king in 1989.