King Harald has faced a number of significant health challenges throughout his reign, with the 89-year-old monarch once again receiving treatment in hospital.
The latest health setback came on on Sunday evening when the Norwegian Royal Court announced that the King’s condition had deteriorated while he was being treated at the National Hospital in Oslo.
Harald was given antibiotics for a bacterial infection in his blood and responded well to the treatment. His condition subsequently stabilised, although he remains in hospital and is on sick leave until further notice.
The latest illness follows his admission to hospital just days earlier.
On August 17, 2026, King Harald was admitted to the National Hospital after receiving cortisone treatment for haemolytic anaemia. The treatment had caused fluid retention, prompting doctors to keep the monarch in hospital for further treatment and observation.
It was not the first time Harald had required hospital treatment this year.
On February 24, 2026, His Majesty was hospitalised while on holiday on the Spanish island of Tenerife. He was treated for an infection and dehydration before recovering.
His health had already been a major concern two years earlier.
On February 27, 2024, Harald was hospitalised in Malaysia after developing an infection while on holiday. During his stay, doctors implanted a temporary pacemaker.
The King of Norway was subsequently flown back to his home country on a medicalised aircraft, where he underwent surgery to have a permanent pacemaker implanted.
The 2024 episode followed several other periods of illness.
On May 8, 2023, King Harald was admitted to the National Hospital because of an infection. He was discharged several days later and was well enough to greet the Norwegian people from the balcony of the Royal Palace on May 17, Norway’s Constitution Day.
Just months earlier, in December 2022, the King had again required hospital treatment.
On December 19, Harald received intravenous antibiotics for an infection while being treated at Rikshospitalet. He was discharged a few days later and was able to spend Christmas with his family.
In August 2022, the monarch was admitted to the National Hospital after developing a fever.
On August 4, doctors diagnosed Harald with an infection and treated him with intravenous antibiotics. He was discharged four days later.
King Harald has also undergone major surgery during his reign.
On October 19, 2020, he underwent surgery to receive a new biological heart valve after being hospitalised with dizziness.
The procedure followed earlier heart surgery in 2005.
On April 1, 2005, Harald underwent surgery on the heart valve between the heart and the aorta. An artificial heart valve was subsequently implanted.
The Norwegian monarch had also faced cancer earlier in his reign.
On December 8, 2003, Harald underwent surgery for bladder cancer.
Despite these repeated health challenges, King Harald has continued to serve as Norway’s monarch and has remained a hugely popular figure among the Norwegian people.
His health has, however, increasingly required Crown Prince Haakon to step in on his behalf.
Haakon regularly serves as Regent when his father is unable to carry out his duties and is currently acting as Regent while King Harald remains in hospital.
