Norway’s King Harald V hospitalised, placed on two-week sick leave

Norwegian King Harald V has been hospitalised and will be on sick leave for two weeks, according to a statement from the Norwegian Royal Palace.

The 89-year-old monarch has been undergoing treatment with corticosteroids in recent weeks for a rare blood disorder, hemolytic anaemia. The condition causes a decrease in the number of red blood cells in the body and can lead to fatigue and difficulty breathing.

The palace said the king was hospitalised due to “fluid accumulation in the body that requires treatment in hospital.”

It also added that 53-year-old Crown Prince Haakon will serve as regent while the king is on sick leave.

Harald, Europe’s oldest monarch, has served as Norway’s ceremonial head of state since 1991.

By Jeyhun Aghazada