King Harald V, the 89‑year‑old Norwegian monarch, has seen a further decline in health, the palace announced. He is currently receiving antibiotics for a bacterial infection in his bloodstream and will remain at Oslo University Hospital and on leave from royal duties until further notice.
The king, who has sat on the throne since 1991, was admitted to hospital and put on sick leave a week ago. His son, Crown Prince Haakon, 53, has stepped in as regent while the king’s recovery continues.
In recent weeks, the monarch has been treated with cortisone for haemolytic anaemia, a rare blood condition that reduces red blood cells and can cause fatigue and shortness of breath. Earlier in April, the palace announced a “permanent reduction” in the king’s public engagements because of his age, noting he had received a pacemaker after having a serious illness on holiday in Malaysia.
This year has seen the royal household face a litany of high‑profile challenges. Crown Princess Mette‑Marit received a lung transplant in June after a diagnosis of a rare pulmonary fibrosis in 2018. Merely two days after her transplant, her son Marius Borg Høiby was sentenced to four years in prison for two counts of rape – a conviction that sparked significant media attention.
The family has also been embroiled in other controversies, including documents revealing Mette‑Marit’s frequent contact with the late sex‑offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a national television interview, she apologised to the king and queen for her friendship and admitted to “poor judgement.”
