Norway‘s royal family gathered Thursday at King Harald V’s bedside in hospital after the palace announced that the health condition of the 89-year-old monarch, who is suffering from a blood disease, was “extremely serious”. Queen Sonja and 53-year-old Crown Prince Haakon, who is acting as regent during his father’s illness,……
Norway‘s royal family gathered Thursday at King Harald V’s bedside in hospital after the palace announced that the health condition of the 89-year-old monarch, who is suffering from a blood disease, was “extremely serious”.
Queen Sonja and 53-year-old Crown Prince Haakon, who is acting as regent during his father’s illness, have cancelled all royal engagements and were with him at Oslo University Hospital, along with other family members.
Europe’s oldest reigning monarch has been in hospital in Oslo since August 17 suffering from haemolytic anaemia, a condition caused by an abnormally rapid destruction of red blood cells which leads to fatigue and shortness of breath.
“His Majesty the King’s health condition is extremely serious,” the palace said, providing no specific details.
Images in the Norwegian media showed the queen, Haakon, his wife Mette-Marit and their adult children arriving at the hospital, while the public began laying flowers outside the palace in Oslo.
Mette-Marit’s son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Hoiby, who is under house arrest and wearing an ankle bracelet after a rape conviction in June that he has appealed, was also seen at the hospital.
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Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, who cancelled a work trip to Germany on Thursday following the update on the king’s health, told AFP he was “deeply affected”.
“I stand together with the entire country as we now send our warmest thoughts to the king and the rest of the royal family. I am confident that the king is being well taken care of, and that he is receiving good and compassionate treatment,” he said.
– ‘Much loved’ –
Norway’s bishops also cut short a study visit to Rome where they had met Pope Leo and were to return to Norway Thursday, according to Christian newspaper Vart Land.
AFP
