Norway’s King Harald in extremely serious condition

Norway’s King Harald V is in an “extremely serious” condition at Oslo University Hospital, the royal household said Thursday, prompting his closest family members to cancel official duties and gather at his bedside.

The 89-year-old monarch, Europe’s oldest head of state and oldest reigning monarch, has been in hospital since August 17 for treatment of haemolytic anaemia, a rare blood condition that reduces the number of red blood cells and can cause fatigue and shortness of breath.

“His Majesty the King’s health condition is extremely serious,” the palace said in a statement, giving no further medical details.

Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon, the king’s son and heir, have cancelled all royal engagements. Haakon, 53, has been serving as regent while his father is on leave. Norwegian media reported that members of the royal family were at the hospital, and Queen Sonja, Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit were seen arriving there Thursday morning. King Harald’s sister, Princess Astrid, is also at the hospital, according to Norwegian media cited by the BBC.

Harald has been receiving cortisone treatment for haemolytic anaemia. Al Jazeera reported that he was admitted to Oslo University Hospital because of fluid retention linked to that treatment.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre cancelled a planned trip to Germany, where he had been expected to meet Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday. “The whole nation is with us as we send warm thoughts to the king and the rest of the royal family,” Støre said in a statement.

Members of the public have begun laying flowers in Palace Square outside the royal palace in Oslo.

Harald has reigned since 1991 and has had several health problems in recent years, forcing him to reduce his official schedule. He was fitted with a pacemaker in 2024 after falling ill while on holiday in Malaysia. Al Jazeera reported that he has ruled out abdicating, saying he took a lifelong oath before Norway’s parliament.

The king’s deteriorating condition comes during a difficult year for Norway’s royal family. Crown Princess Mette-Marit received a lung transplant in June after being diagnosed in 2018 with a rare form of pulmonary fibrosis, the BBC reported.

Two days before the transplant, Mette-Marit’s son, Marius Borg Høiby, was sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of two counts of rape, according to the BBC. He denied the most serious charges and is expected to appeal the sentence. Høiby, 29, was four when his mother married Crown Prince Haakon and is not a royal figure.

Earlier in the year, documents were also released showing Mette-Marit’s frequent contact with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the BBC reported. She later apologised to Norway’s king and queen for her three-year friendship with Epstein and said in a national television interview that she had shown “poor judgement” and wished she had never met him.