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The 89-year-old monarch who has reigned since 1991 was admitted to Oslo University Hospital on August 17 after cortisone treatment for haemolytic anaemia caused fluid accumulation in his body the royal household stated in an earlier announcement. His condition worsened over the weekend with the development of a bacterial infection in the blood for which he has been receiving antibiotics and initially responded to treatment according to a palace update distributed on Sunday. Crown Prince Haakon has been acting as regent during the king’s absence from duties a role the palace confirmed would continue until further notice.
Norwegian media including VG and NRK reported that Queen Sonja Crown Princess Mette-Marit Princess Astrid Prince Sverre Magnus and Princess Ingrid Alexandra all arrived at the hospital on Thursday morning following the latest health bulletin. The palace had earlier indicated that the king remained on sick leave and would not resume public engagements in the immediate term. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre conveyed that the thoughts of the nation were with the king and his family at this difficult time as carried in statements to the press.
King Harald recognized as Europe’s oldest serving head of state by Reuters underwent surgery for a pacemaker in 2024 after becoming ill during a visit to Malaysia the royal court disclosed at the time. In April of that year he announced a permanent scaling back of his official schedule due to his advancing age while ruling out any possibility of abdication. The monarch has maintained a reduced program of activities since then according to palace briefings.
This latest health scare arrives as the Norwegian royal family navigates a series of personal challenges throughout 2026. Crown Princess Mette-Marit underwent a lung transplant in June following a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis first diagnosed in 2018 palace records show. Her son from a previous relationship Marius Borg Høiby received a four-year prison sentence earlier this year after conviction on rape charges adding to the year’s pressures on the household.
Medical experts consulted by Norwegian outlets such as VG have described haemolytic anaemia as a condition where red blood cells break down faster than they can be replaced potentially leading to fatigue and breathlessness though outcomes vary by underlying cause. One specialist noted that while the situation appears serious prompt hospital care and antibiotic response offer grounds for cautious optimism though full recovery from such episodes in elderly patients often requires extended rehabilitation. The palace has committed to providing regular updates on the king’s progress in the coming days.
A Reuters dispatch from August 27 underscored that the family gathering marked a significant moment with several members cancelling their scheduled appearances to be at the king’s side. The report highlighted King Harald’s long service since ascending the throne in the early 1990s amid Norway’s modern constitutional monarchy. Public expressions of support have begun to emerge across Norwegian society as news of the deterioration spread.
