It was announced on 8 May that King Harald of Norway was hospitalised with an infection.
The Royal Court issued an update the following day saying that the King was still in hospital but recovering; however, he would be on sick leave for the rest of the week.
As such, Crown Prince Regent Haakon will take over the King’s planned programme for this week, which includes the planned state visit from Italy.
While Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit were marking the 10th anniversary of the Asker football street team, the heir to the throne answered some press questions about his father’s health.
His Royal Highness said: “Fortunately, his condition is going well. He is recovering and will probably be in the hospital for a few more days. We are happy that he is recovering. He is, of course, upset that he won’t be able to join the state visit from Italy this week, but the rest of us will try to accommodate as best we can. So I think it will probably go well. Then we can hope he recovers relatively quickly. He is recovering well. So we hope so.”
Another important event is just a week away – Norway’s National Day. According to tradition, the Royal Family will wave to the Children’s Parade in Oslo from the palace balcony. However, the Crown Prince does not know whether the King will be well enough to greet the people on National Day.
The Crown Prince remarked: “He must take the time it takes to recover. So that is our first priority. I think he himself certainly hopes to be back by 17 May, but we have to follow the doctors’ recommendation. He just has to take the time it takes.”
It is well known that there is a lower threshold for admitting King Harald, 86, to hospital, than other people. His Majesty has been hospitalised several times in recent years. The most recent time was also for an infection.
The Norwegian media reports that the current hospitalisation is not particularly serious, and sources close to the Royal Family quoted by the Norwegian press claim that the King is not expected to remain in hospital for long.
