From Le Figaro with AFP
Published 2 hours ago
King Harald of Norway in Oslo on February 14, 2024. NTB/Portal
The 87-year-old monarch “fell ill” during a vacation in Malaysia, the Norwegian Royal Palace said.
King Harald of Norway, 87 years old and in fragile health, was hospitalized due to an infection while on holiday in Malaysia, the Norwegian royal palace said on Tuesday. “His Majesty the King fell ill while on holiday in Malaysia and was hospitalized due to an infection,” the palace said, specifying that he was being “well cared for” by Norwegian and Malaysian medical staff.
The oldest reigning ruler in Europe, King Harald, who travels on crutches, has had more health problems and illness absences in recent years: in particular, he had to undergo heart surgery and suffered from various respiratory problems and infections. At the end of January he had to take a break for several days due to a respiratory infection. The king sat on the throne for 33 years and blew out his 87th candle on February 21st.
At the end of January, during his first public intervention since the surprise departure of his distant cousin, Queen Margrethe II, to Denmark in favor of her eldest son Frederik, he ruled out abdication. “I stick to what I have always said, namely that I took an oath to the Storting (the Norwegian unicameral parliament, editor's note) and that it lasts for life,” he said. In his absence, the 50-year-old Crown Prince Haakon takes over the regency.