The royal court in Oslo announced on Thursday that King Harald, 89, has seen a decline in his health while receiving care in hospital and that his condition is now "very serious." The king, who has served as Norway's ceremonial head of state since 1991 and is recognised as Europe’s oldest living monarch, was admitted to hospital on August 17 for treatment of a bacterial infection in his blood.
In response to the development, Crown Prince Haakon and Queen Sonja have both cancelled their scheduled public events, the palace said in a statement. Norwegian media reported that members of the royal family, including the crown prince and the queen, were observed arriving at Oslo University Hospital, where the king is being treated.
Senior national officials also adjusted their foreign travel plans. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere called off a trip to Germany and told the media, "The whole nation is with us as we send warm thoughts to the king and the rest of the royal family." The speaker of Norway’s parliament, Masud Gharahkhani, interrupted an official visit to Iceland and was returning to Norway. The Committee of Foreign Relations and Defence announced that its members would head back from South Korea.
The Lutheran Church of Norway’s College of Bishops, which was in Rome for a rare visit with the pope, said it would return home as soon as possible, according to media reports. The palace statement and subsequent movements by the royal family and officials underscore the immediate domestic and diplomatic adjustments prompted by the king’s health.
Separately, the court noted that in 2024 the king had stated he planned to scale back the number of official activities he undertakes in view of his age, but he rejected the idea of abdication, saying his oath as king was for life.
Context and present-day impact
The developments have produced a wave of cancellations and returns among Norway's political, parliamentary and religious leadership, as close relatives and top officials gather at the hospital. The situation remains fluid and the royal court has described the king’s state as "very serious."