Norway's King Harald, 89, in "Extremely Serious" Condition as Family Gathers at Hospital
Crowds are leaving flowers outside the Royal Palace in Oslo as King Harald V of Norway remains hospitalized in what the palace has described as an "extremely serious" condition. The 89-year-old king, who has reigned since 1991, is being treated for an infection related to hemolytic anemia — a blood disorder in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than the body can replace them.
The Norwegian Royal Palace announced just before 5 p.m. local time on August 27, 2026, that the king's condition was unchanged (Town & Country). Palace officials separately told the Associated Press that his health had deteriorated and he was in very serious condition (AP News). The royal court's official website, kongehuset.no, had earlier noted that the king was receiving antibiotics for a bacterial blood infection and had responded to that treatment — but subsequently announced that his health had worsened (kongehuset.no).
The king's entire family spent the day at the hospital with him. Crown Prince Haakon, 52, the king's only son and heir, has taken over as regent during the hospitalization, meaning he is carrying out the king's constitutional duties in his father's absence. Haakon canceled a planned trip to Færder National Park. Queen Sonja, 88, the king's wife, canceled her own trip to Trøndelag, a region in central Norway.
The cancellations have extended beyond the royal family. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre scrapped a planned trip to Germany and told AFP in a statement that he stands together with the country in sending warmest thoughts to the king and his family, adding that he is confident the king is receiving good, compassionate treatment. Masud Gharahkhani, the speaker of Norway's parliament (the Storting), cut short a trip to Iceland. Even the Lutheran Church of Norway's College of Bishops ended a visit to Rome — where they had met with Pope Leo — to return home.
Dr. Bjørn Tore Gjertsen, a senior consultant in hematology at Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, told the Norwegian broadcaster NRK that given the king's age and medical history, the situation is very serious and that the country must prepare for the worst (Town & Country). His comments were his own medical assessment as an outside expert, not a statement from the royal household.
King Harald's health has been a recurring concern this year. He was hospitalized in February while visiting Spain's Canary Islands and treated for a skin infection before being discharged (AP News). He was readmitted early the previous week with anemia and a bacterial blood infection (News in English).
Norway is a constitutional monarchy, meaning the king's role is largely ceremonial, but he holds deep personal significance for many Norwegians. Harald became the first Norwegian-born king in more than 500 years when he ascended the throne in 1991. The flowers accumulating at the Palace Square are a quiet measure of what that means.
