King Harald's Health Issues


If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
The King will this morning have a permanent pacemaker implanted and remain at the hospital for a few days.
 
The king's physician Bjørn Bendz met the press on Tuesday afternoon.
- The king has had an infection which has also affected the heart. When people who are almost 90 years old are admitted with an infection, it is always serious. He will probably have to be on sick leave for a while. It probably makes sense that he is on sick leave over Easter.
 
I wonder if any of the Norwegian speakers can tell us if the doctor was saying that the infection was actually in the heart or that having an infection somewhere else affected the heart.
 
I wonder if any of the Norwegian speakers can tell us if the doctor was saying that the infection was actually in the heart or that having an infection somewhere else affected the heart.
He said that the King had an infection that also affected the heart.

He also said they are still not sure where the infection came from… But he said that the local hospital staff at Malaysia had done everything right (and without saying so letting it be understood that their swift actions had saved the King’s life)
 
Last edited:
He said that the King had an infection that also affected the heart.

He also said they are still not sure where the infection came from… But he said that the local hospital staff at Malaysia had done everything right (and without saying it letting it be understood that their swift actions had saved the King’s life)
OMG!
 
King Harald is back home! He was released from hospital today, March 14, the Palace announced today:

His Majesty the King has today been discharged from the National Hospital and is doing well. The king is on sick leave until Monday 8 April for rest and recovery.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Regent looks after the King's constitutional duties during the period.

** kongehuset: Kongen utskrevet fra sykehuset **
 
I wonder if this will have made him consider abdicating.

Harald himself said so many times that he would remain king until his death, but everything is possible!

Margrethe always said the same thing, too. Until she changed her mind.

Its hard to tell isn't it because indeed Margrethe was always one to say she would be Queen until she "fell off the perch" but I also think you have quite a different situation in Norway - you have a consort who is still very active and fit, a Crown Princess who isn't, a would be Crown Princess who is still in education / training unlike in Denmark where you had a Crown Prince / Princess couple all set ready perfectly to assume the duties.
QMII often used to say that she wouldn't abdicate if she didn't become too ill!
King Harald OTOH has been crystal clear that he will not abdicate!

And as I wrote in the abdication thread, that has nothing to do with him having Queen Sonja by his side or CP Mette-Marit being ill, it's simply because he believes that being monarch is something you are for life!

--------------------

The king's physician Bjørn Bendz met the press on Tuesday afternoon.
- The king has had an infection which has also affected the heart. When people who are almost 90 years old are admitted with an infection, it is always serious. He will probably have to be on sick leave for a while. It probably makes sense that he is on sick leave over Easter.

He repeated this twice, also when he was asked by a reporter if the King's life had been in danger.

---------------------

There has been some criticism in the Norwegian media against the court for not telling us where in the body he had the infection.
But now we know that they simply didn't know, which was probably also the case when he was hospitalized with infections in 2017, 2022, and 2023.

And IMO, the King deserves praise for the openness he has shown about his various illnesses, even allowing his doctors to hold press conferences in connection with his bladder cancer surgery in 2003, his heart surgeries in 2005 and 2020 and his pacemaker implantation now in 2024.
Compare that to other monarchies:
1) We didn't get any information about QEII's illness during the last year of her life.
2) We don't know what type of cancer King Charles has.
3) We didn't get much information about the heart-stuff with King Carl XVI Gustaf.

--------------------

Harald pictured leaving the hospital.

Will continue on sick leave until April 8
Here's an NRK-article as well.
It includes a photo of Princess Astrid being driven out of the hospital shortly after the King. She is very close to her brother and was probably there to take a look at him before he went home.
 
Last edited:
So, it seems that Ingrid-Alexandra's week off indeed fell exactly at the right time for her to visit her grandfather in hospital.
 
Considering Margrethe was in the country at this point ones wonder if she might have try to convince Harald to rethink he decision not to abdicate
 
The king is on sick leave for two more weeks
His Majesty the King is in rehabilitation following his hospitalization earlier this winter, and still needs more time to return to work. The king is therefore on sick leave for two new weeks until Monday 22 April.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon will act as regent.

The King's official program will largely be taken care of by members of the Royal Household:

HRH the Crown Prince Regent, HM the Queen and HRH the Crown Princess will hold a medal reception on 9 April
HRH The Crown Princess presents the National Association for Public Health's research awards on 15 April
HM The Queen visits "Drive" in Melhus, as well as Skaun municipality on 16 April
The Crown Prince's planned official visit to the west coast of the USA will take place as planned from 15 to 19 April. In line with the Constitution, the government will oversee the governance of the country that week.

 
Very clear communication from the court; well done!

So, when Haakon is in the country, he will act as regent; if he is out of the country, the State Council/government will take that role as long as the king is on sick leave.

Wishing lots of rest and good recovery to the king.
 
Yes, a clearer press release. But that wasn't always the case. The previous one did not mention who was "in charge" when Haakon is aboard.

Wishing a continued recovery for the King.
 
But the special thing this time is that Haakon will be away on a Friday. It is very rare that they are both not available on a friday for state council, and it is the first time I see it listed on the royal calendar that the goverment will preside state council.

Also it is quite clear according to the constitution that the goverment is in charge if the King and heir are not available. The rules are not the same as in Denmark where the press woman tells the paper to Watch the flag to see who is in charge…(which you can also do in Norway btw)
 
Last edited:
"King Harald is currently on sick leave until Monday 22 April.
- In advance of this, it will be assessed whether the sick leave should be extended or whether the king is ready to return to work, informs press contact Sara Svanmyr at the Palace to NTB.

Several tasks for the next week that the king usually carries out have already been published in the official program of the royal house.
Usually the program states who in the royal family is involved, but for several of the points in next week this is now open.
Among other things, this applies to an audience with the chief of defense on Monday, and ministers on Friday 26 April.
- The Chief of Defense will be received in audience at the Royal Palace (11.30), the program says."

As of today, some of the program that are listed on the calendar but not with a royal so far.
19/04/2024-Minister of State, The government holds a cabinet meeting in line with the Constitution at the Prime Minister's office (11 a.m.), in the absence of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Regent.
(Haakon ended an official visit to the US today)

22/04/2024-Fixed audience, The Chief of Defense is received in audience at the Royal Palace (11.30).

22/04/2024-Audience, Chief of Brigade North brigades Terje Bruøygard is received in audience at the Royal Palace.

22/04/2024- Audience, Deputy Commander of the Defense Staff, Rear Admiral Bjørn-Erik Marthinsen, is received in audience at the Royal Palace.

25/04/2024-Fixed audience, The Minister of Foreign Affairs is received in audience at the Royal Palace (10.00).

26/04/2024-Minister of State, A cabinet meeting is held at the Royal Palace (11.00).

29/04/2024-Fixed audience, Chief Home Guard received in audience at the Royal Palace (11.30am)
 
The Palace today, April 22, made a new announcement concerning future activities/engagements of King Harald - he will permanently reduce the number of events he will attend:



Changes in His Majesty the King's activities going forwardHis Majesty the King is back at work today, Monday 22 April. In connection with the King resuming his work, some changes will be made to his program going forward.From the time the King is back at work today, he will resume his constitutional duties as head of state, conducting meetings and audiences at the Palace, as well as official visits around Norway.However, the king will make adjustments to his program in the future, due to his age. This will entail a permanent reduction in the number and scope of activities in which the King participates. Practical arrangements will also be made in the implementation of his official activity.His Majesty the King is happy to be back and resume his work.

 
Given the kings age and ongoing health issues I expected as much!
 
Better to reduce the number of engagements of the King and be carefully. He is now in the same age his father was when he passed away and when i have counted right in about 1 month he will be longer King then his father was.
 
The King has already reduced his outdoor engagements, performing most of his duties inside the palace in recent years, which is a natural and sensible thing to do considering his age and frail health.

The King's upcoming schedule:
Three audiences today.
Four audiences on April 25.
Council of State on April 26.
An audience on April 29.
An official luncheon on April 30.

His first outdoor engagement will be on May 2, when he and the Queen will visit Kongsberg on the occasion of the city's 400th anniversary.

--------------------

His dad had heart issues. I suppose Harald's are similar?
I know his father had some heart issues during the last year of his life, but I didn't know he had any prior to that. So thanks for writing it.

BTW, I have just written about the health of King Haakon VII and King Olav V in the following threads 1 - 2.

--------------------

Considering Margrethe was in the country at this point ones wonder if she might have try to convince Harald to rethink he decision not to abdicate
Although the King is known for his kindness and friendliness, I don't think he would have appreciated QMII turning up at his hospital bed to try and convince him to abdicate!
And anyway, I don't think QMII would have done something like that.
 
Back
Top Bottom