Norway's royal family gathers at King Harald's bedside as condition worsens
King Harald V of Norway, 89, is in an extremely serious condition in an Oslo hospital, with Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon among family members at his bedside. He has been treated for over a week for a rare blood disorder.
Norway's royal household has announced that King Harald V, 89, is in an "extremely serious" condition at Oslo University Hospital. His wife, Queen Sonja, and son, Crown Prince Haakon, have cancelled all official engagements and joined other family members at his bedside.
The king has been hospitalised for more than a week, being treated for haemolytic anaemia, a rare condition that reduces the number of red blood cells in the body and causes fatigue and shortness of breath. He has recently been given cortisone treatment for the condition.
On the throne since 1991, Harald V is Europe's oldest reigning head of state. His 53-year-old son, Crown Prince Haakon, has been acting as regent while his father has been on leave.
Other royal family members were seen arriving at the hospital on Thursday morning, including Haakon's wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit. According to Norwegian media reports, the king's sister, Princess Astrid, has also arrived at the hospital.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said in a statement that the whole nation's thoughts were with the king and his family.
A difficult year for the family
The king has faced several health issues in recent years that have forced him to reduce his royal duties, including having a pacemaker fitted in 2024 after falling ill while on holiday in Malaysia.
2026 has already been a challenging year for the royal family. In June, Crown Princess Mette-Marit underwent a lung transplant, having been diagnosed in 2018 with a rare form of pulmonary fibrosis. The transplant took place two days after her son, Marius Borg Høiby, was sentenced to four years in prison on two counts of rape, a verdict he intends to appeal. Earlier in the year, documents also emerged revealing Mette-Marit's frequent contact with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, for which she later apologised to the king and queen.
