Norway's King Harald, 89, in 'Extremely Serious' Condition After Hospitalisation, Palace Says
The Norwegian Royal Court announced on 27 August 2026 that King Harald V's health condition is "extremely serious," ten days after the 89-year-old monarch was admitted to Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, with a rare blood disease.
The palace's own statement, published on the Royal Court's website at kongehuset.no under the title "Oppdatering om Kongens helse" — Update on the King's health — used the phrase "svært alvorlig," meaning very serious, to describe the King's condition (Hello Magazine).
King Harald was taken to hospital on 17 August with haemolytic anaemia, a condition in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than the body can replace them. The palace said he had been treated with cortisone for the blood disease in recent weeks, which led to fluid accumulation requiring hospital treatment. He was also receiving antibiotics for a bacterial infection in his blood, and the palace said he had responded to that treatment.
His condition had stabilised following the bacterial infection before the palace reported on 27 August that it had worsened (WTOP). The "extremely serious" update came two days after the palace said the King had deteriorated over the preceding weekend. King Harald remains at Oslo University Hospital and is on sick leave until further notice.
Crown Prince Haakon, 52, had been serving as acting regent — stepping in to carry out the King's constitutional duties — after the palace said Harald would take time away from public life for two weeks. Following the latest update, Haakon and Queen Sonja cancelled all royal engagements. Members of the Norwegian royal family gathered by the King's bedside, with Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit pictured arriving at the hospital on 27 August.
Norway's Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, said in a comment to AFP: "I stand together with the entire country as we now send our warmest thoughts to the king and the rest of the royal family."
This is not the King's first hospitalisation of the year. In February, he was treated for an infection and dehydration while holidaying with Queen Sonja in Tenerife.
King Harald V has reigned since 1991. He is Europe's oldest reigning monarch and has visibly scaled back public duties in recent years, with Crown Prince Haakon increasingly standing in for his father at official engagements.
The Royal Court has not indicated when the next update on the King's condition will be issued.
