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Norwegian King Harald V is in an "extremely serious" condition in hospital, according to the royal household. His wife, Queen Sonja, and son, Crown Prince Haakon, have canceled all royal engagements and gathered at his bedside at Oslo University Hospital along with other family members.
The 89-year-old monarch has been hospitalized for over a week due to a rare blood condition known as haemolytic anaemia. King Harald, who has been on the throne since 1991, is the oldest head of state in Europe. Crown Prince Haakon, 53, has been acting as regent while his father is on leave.
In recent weeks, King Harald has been treated with cortisone for his condition, which reduces the number of red blood cells in the body, leading to fatigue and shortness of breath. Family members, including Crown Princess Mette-Marit and her son Marius Borg Høiby, were seen arriving at the hospital. Reports indicate that King Harald's sister, Princess Astrid, is also present.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has canceled a planned trip to Germany, where he was scheduled to meet Chancellor Friedrich Merz. He expressed that "the whole nation is with us as we send warm thoughts to the king and the rest of the royal family." Members of the public have started laying flowers in Palace Square in front of the palace in Oslo. King Harald has faced multiple health issues in recent years, forcing him to scale back his royal duties.