Norway's King Harald receives antibiotics for blood infection in hospital
The 89-year-old monarch developed a bacterial blood infection while receiving treatment for hemolytic anemia at Oslo's Rikshospitalet, prompting Crown Prince Haakon to assume regency duties.
Deterioration in hospital
King Harald V of Norway, Europe's oldest head of state at 89 years of age, suffered a deterioration in his health over the weekend while receiving medical care in Oslo. The royal household announced on Sunday, 23 August 2026, that the monarch developed a bacterial infection in his bloodstream and began receiving intravenous antibiotics. Medical staff at Rikshospitalet reported that Harald responded positively to the antibiotic treatment and that his overall condition remains stable. The king has been admitted to the national hospital since Monday, 17 August 2026, after experiencing adverse effects from ongoing therapies.
His Majesty the King's health deteriorated over the weekend. The King is receiving antibiotics for a bacterial infection in his blood, and has responded to this treatment.
Complications from anemia treatment
Harald was originally hospitalized due to complications stemming from hemolytic anemia, a disorder characterized by the premature destruction of red blood cells that leads to paleness, chronic fatigue, and shortness of breath. To manage the condition, doctors prescribed cortisone therapy over recent weeks, which subsequently caused severe fluid accumulation throughout his body. The swelling triggered medical concern and necessitated close inpatient supervision at Rikshospitalet.
Palace officials initially placed the monarch on a two-week sick leave, but his extended hospitalization has forced adjustments to his official calendar. Harald cancelled his scheduled appearances on 1 and 2 September 2026, when he was slated to undertake an official visit to the Trøndelag region. Queen Sonja will carry out the Trøndelag engagements alone, while medical teams prepare a revised assessment of the king's health for the following week.
- Hospitalized in Malaysia for an infection and fitted with a permanent pacemaker in Oslo
- Treated at Hospiten Sur in Tenerife for a leg skin infection and severe dehydration
- Admitted to Rikshospitalet in Oslo for fluid retention caused by cortisone treatment
- Palace announces antibiotic treatment for a bacterial infection in the blood
- Official visit to Trøndelag reassigned to Queen Sonja while Haakon serves as regent
Regency and family support
Crown Prince Haakon, 50, has assumed the constitutional functions of regent during his father's medical absence. Members of the royal family visited Harald throughout the week, starting on Tuesday when his older sister, Princess Astrid, arrived at Rikshospitalet 24 hours after his admission. Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit have also maintained a bedside presence, even as Mette-Marit recovers from a lung transplant undergone two months ago following complications from pulmonary fibrosis diagnosed in 2018.
Despite advancing age and recurring illnesses, Harald has continuously ruled out abdicating the throne he has occupied since 1991. The monarch has reiterated on multiple occasions that the constitutional oath he swore before the Norwegian parliament binds him for life.
Medical history and public standing
The latest hospitalization follows a series of clinical interventions for the Norwegian sovereign in recent years. In 2024, Harald contracted a severe infection while on a private holiday in Malaysia, requiring emergency implantation of a temporary pacemaker before medical evacuation to Oslo for a permanent device. Earlier in February 2026, the king spent several days at Hospital Universitario Hospiten Sur in Tenerife, Spain, receiving treatment for severe dehydration and a cutaneous leg infection during a winter stay with Queen Sonja.
Earlier in August 2026, the palace had dismissed emergency rumors after Harald visited the hospital in his private vehicle for a scheduled checkup. Across his reign, the monarch has undergone multiple cardiac operations and faced repeated respiratory ailments. Despite recent public controversies surrounding the royal family, King Harald maintains an approval rating of roughly 85%.
