King Harald's health deteriorates, Norwegian Royal House reports

Norway's 89-year-old monarch, King Harald, remains hospitalized at Oslo's National Hospital, with his condition described as "worsened" and "very serious" by the Norwegian Royal House.

The King is currently receiving antibiotics for a bacterial infection in his blood. This hospitalization is his second since the beginning of the year, highlighting ongoing health concerns for the aging monarch.

Over the past two decades, King Harald has faced numerous health challenges. These include surgery for bladder cancer in 2003, a heart valve replacement in 2005, and subsequent heart valve surgery in 2020. He has also been hospitalized for infections in 2017, 2022, and 2023, and experienced breathing difficulties in 2020. In early 2024, he was hospitalized in Malaysia due to an infection and received a temporary pacemaker, later undergoing surgery for a permanent one upon returning to Norway. Following this, the Royal House announced a "permanent reduction in the number and scope of activities" due to his age.

Most recently, in February 2024, the King was hospitalized in Malaysia with an infection and received a temporary pacemaker. He later had a permanent pacemaker implanted in Norway. Upon his return to official duties after two months of sick leave, the Royal House stated there would be a "permanent reduction in the number and scope of activities" due to his age.

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His condition has worsened and is "very serious."