Politicians and clergy have returned to Norway after the health of King Harald worsened.
Early this morning, the Royal Court in Oslo announced that Harald V’s condition had deteriorated.
The royal family rushed to his side with Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon both cancelling engagements to get to the Rikshospitalet in Oslo.
King Harald has been in hospital for ten days. He was admitted after treatment for a form of anaemia led to fluid retention. Earlier this week, his doctors announced that he had developed a bloodstream infection and was now being treated with antibiotics.
They had said he was responding to the treatment but his health worsened.
As people waited for news of the king, they made their wav to the royal palace in Norway to leave flowers and candles.
Norwegian TV broadcast non stop coverage of the developments around King Harald’s health.
And Sweden’s royals said they were following the situation closely.
In the middle of the afternoon, Crown Prince Haakon was seen leaving the hospital as were his two children, second in line to the throne, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, and her brother, Prince Sverre Magnus.
Soon afterwards, the Royal Court in Oslo said there was no change in King Harald’s health but added that Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon had cancelled their engagements for tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Store, cancelled an overseas visit as did the President of the Storting, Norway’s parliament.
Norwegian bishops who were overseas were also called back to Norway.
Harald, 89, has had a series of health problems in recent years but his current condition is extremely serious.
He has been visited today by his daughter, Princess Martha Louise, who is also looking after her husband, Durek Verrett, who has just undergone a kidney transplant.
Harald became King of Norway in January 1991 and is a hugely popular figure among people in Norway.
As people spoke about him after news of his health deterioration broke, one word used by almost all was ”fantastic”, to describe him both as a king and as a person.
