The oldest reigning European monarch has been treated at an Oslo hospital since Monday for hemolytic anemia – a disease caused by the unusually rapid destruction of red blood cells, causing fatigue and shortness of breath.
“His Majesty the King’s health condition is very serious,” the statement said, without providing further details.
Earlier, the palace announced that the king had canceled his visit to the central Trøndelag region, scheduled for September 1 and 2.
Queen Sonja and the heir to the throne, Prince Haakon, who is acting as regent, have canceled all royal engagements, the palace statement said. Norwegian media reported that they are keeping vigil by the king’s bedside.
They were joined by Haakon’s wife, the heir to the throne Princess Mette-Marit, and media footage shows them arriving at the hospital.
Harald V, who ascended to the Norwegian throne in 1991, has faced numerous health problems in recent years but has repeatedly dismissed the possibility of abdicating the throne.
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Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said in a comment to the news agency AFP that the news deeply shocked him.
“I stand with the whole country, sending warmest thoughts to the king and the rest of the royal family. I am confident that the king is well cared for and that he is receiving good and compassionate treatment,” he said.
After the palace announcement, Norwegian bishops cut short a familiarization visit in Rome, where they met with Pope Leo, and will return to Norway on Thursday, reported the Christian newspaper Vårt Land.
Harald V’s health ailments have occurred during a turbulent time for the Norwegian royal family. Mette-Marit is criticized for her connections with the late convicted American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Mette-Marit’s son from a previous marriage, Marius Borg Høiby, was sentenced in June to four years in prison for two rapes and 32 other crimes, including violence against a former partner. He has appealed the verdict.
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Despite this, the royal family remains popular in Norwegian society.
