The health of King Harald of Norway has deteriorated further and is now in a "very serious" condition, the royal palace said on its website. The 89-year-old monarch, who has been on sick leave for several weeks, was admitted to the National Hospital in Oslo a week ago, where he received antibiotics for a bacterial blood infection and had responded to treatment.
However, in an update on August 27, the palace said the King's "health has deteriorated" and announced that all royal engagements have been cancelled.
Royal engagements cancelled
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 and remains regent until further notice.
The king suffers from hemolytic anemia and was being treated with cortisone, leading to fluid accumulation in the body that required hospital treatment, the palace said last week.
Prime minister sends wishes
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.
Recent health struggles
Harald, who has been monarch since 1991, has been in and out of 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.
