King of Norway's health has worsened, palace says

Norway's King Harald V's health has worsened, the palace has said, as he remains in hospital receiving antibiotics for a bloodstream bacterial infection.

The monarch has responded to treatment despite the deterioration in his condition, according to the palace, but he will remain at Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, and on leave from royal duties until further notice.

The 89-year-old, who has been on the throne since 1991, was admitted to hospital and put on sick leave a week ago.

His son Crown Prince Haakon, 53, has been serving as regent while his father is on leave.

King Harald has been treated in recent weeks with cortisone for a rare blood condition haemolytic anaemia. It causes the number of red blood cells in the body to be reduced and leads to fatigue and shortness of breath.

In April 2024, Norway's royal household said that King Harald would make a "permanent reduction" to his public engagements "out of consideration for his age". That year, the king had been fitted with a pacemaker after falling ill on holiday in Malaysia.

The Norwegian royal family has already faced a challenging year in 2026.

Crown Prince Haakon's wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, received a lung transplant in June after she had been diagnosed with a rare form of pulmonary fibrosis in 2018.