King Harald V of Norway Hospitalized for Fluid Retention

King Harald V of Norway has been hospitalized and will be on sick leave for two weeks, the Royal Household announced on Monday. The 89-year-old monarch was admitted due to “fluid retention in the body that requires treatment in hospital.”

Crown Prince Haakon, 53, is set to assume regent duties while his father recovers. This is not the first health concern for the King, who is one of Europe’s longest-serving monarchs. He has been undergoing treatment with cortisone for haemolytic anaemia, a rare blood condition that reduces red blood cells, leading to fatigue and shortness of breath.

In April 2024, the palace announced that King Harald would scale back his public engagements due to his age. He has previously been hospitalized for an infection and dehydration in February while in Tenerife, and received a pacemaker in 2024 after falling ill in Malaysia.

Queen Sonja also experienced health issues earlier this year, undergoing examinations for heart problems in May. These recent health concerns for the royal couple come amidst a period of scrutiny for the Norwegian royals, including Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s past communication with Jeffrey Epstein and her stepson Marius Borg Høiby’s conviction for rape.

King Harald, who ascended the throne in January 1991, has consistently ruled out abdication.

Source: Nile Post