King Harald of Norway has died at the National Hospital in Oslo, the royal palace has announced. The 89-year-old monarch passed away peacefully on Friday, August 28, at 6:35 a.m., according to a statement on the Royal House's website.
Health decline and hospital treatment
The King had been on sick leave for several weeks and was admitted to the National Hospital a week ago, where he was receiving antibiotics for a bacterial blood infection and had responded to treatment. However, an update a few days ago said the King's health had deteriorated and all royal engagements have been cancelled.
The King suffered from hemolytic anemia and was being treated with cortisone, which led to fluid accumulation in the body that required hospital treatment, the palace said last week.
Royal engagements cancelled and regency
The Royal House announced that Crown Prince Regent Haakon, 53, and Queen Sonja, 89, are cancelling all events, leaving no official engagements in the near future for any member of the Royal Family of Norway. Crown Prince Haakon has been serving as regent during this time.
Tributes and recent health history
Norway's prime minister sent his wishes for the king and said that "all of Norway is following and thinking about the king", public broadcaster NRK reported earlier this week. "My strong wish is that he continues to receive good treatment from the good healthcare system we have," Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said.
Harald, who had been monarch since 1991, had been in and out of the hospital several times in recent years. In February, he was admitted to a hospital in Spain's Canary Islands during a winter holiday for treatment for a skin infection. Two years ago, the king fell ill during a private holiday with the queen in Malaysia and received a temporary pacemaker there. Harald returned aboard a medical airplane to Norway, where he was fitted with a permanent pacemaker.
