Members of Norway’s Royal Family have rushed to the hospital where King Harald is being treated after the Palace revealed that his health has become “very serious”.
Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Prince Sverre Magnus are understood to have headed urgently to the National Hospital in Oslo as concern grows for the 89-year-old monarch.
Spanish royal journalist Jose Moreno reported on Thursday morning that the Crown Prince, Crown Princess and their son had travelled to the hospital following the latest announcement from the Norwegian Royal Court.
The report comes shortly after the Palace issued its most serious health update yet on King Harald.
The Norwegian Royal Court said on Thursday that “His Majesty the King’s state of health is very serious.”
The stark statement was released after several days of increasingly concerning updates about the monarch’s condition.
The Palace also confirmed that Crown Prince Haakon and Queen Sonja have cancelled all of their scheduled engagements.
Haakon has been serving as Regent while his father remains in hospital and has been carrying out the constitutional duties of Norway’s head of state.
King Harald has been receiving treatment at Rikshospitalet since August 17 after doctors became concerned about complications from his treatment for haemolytic anaemia.
He had been receiving cortisone for the blood disorder but developed fluid retention which required hospital treatment.
During his stay, the Norwegian King developed a bacterial infection in his blood and was given antibiotics.
The Palace initially said that Harald had responded to the treatment and that his condition was stable.
On Monday, the Royal Court said there had been no significant changes in his health and that his condition remained stable.
Thursday’s announcement represents a dramatic change in the language used by the Palace.
The Royal Family has now cancelled official engagements as the monarch remains in hospital.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit has herself faced a major health battle this year after undergoing a lung transplant following years of treatment for pulmonary fibrosis.
Her son, Prince Sverre Magnus, was among the family members who visited King Harald at Rikshospitalet on Wednesday, alongside his parents and Queen Sonja.
The family spent around two hours at the hospital during that visit, according to Norwegian reports.
The latest reports come as Norway waits for further information about its 89-year-old monarch.
King Harald has reigned since 1991 and remains one of the country’s most popular public figures.
For now, Crown Prince Haakon continues as Regent, while the Norwegian Royal Family puts its official programme on hold as it waits at Harald’s side.
The Norwegian Royal Court has not yet provided further details about why King Harald’s condition has become “very serious”.
