Norway’s Royal Household Agency says King Harald V is now “doing well” after being hospitalised with an infection while on holiday in Malaysia. The king will remain in hospital on the island of Langkawi for further observation and it is not yet known when he will return to Norway.
King Harald of Norway (second from left) is Europe's oldest reigning monarch at the age of 87 - Photo: Guardian
“The king’s personal physician is in Langkawi and has confirmed that His Majesty is recovering from an infection. His Majesty is receiving excellent care and will remain in hospital for a few more days. No decision has been made regarding his return home,” the Norwegian royal family said in a statement.
King Harald V, Europe's oldest reigning monarch, who turned 87 in February, now needs crutches to get around and has undergone a series of treatments in recent years, including heart surgery and respiratory problems.
The king has been ill for several months. In January, the Norwegian royal family said the king would be on sick leave until February 2 due to a respiratory infection, just days after dismissing speculation that he might abdicate at the behest of his second cousin, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.
Norwegian media quoted King Harald as saying: “I stick to what I have always said, that I took an oath in parliament and that is an oath for life.”
In the king's absence, Crown Prince Haakon, 50, has taken over as regent. The crown prince told reporters in Norway that his father was "in good spirits" and that he had spoken to his father by phone on Wednesday.
“Given his age, it is important that this matter is handled properly. The excellent doctors have been working very hard at the hospital,” Crown Prince Haakon said. “I don’t know when his father will return home. We will have to decide that later.”
Quang Anh (according to Guardian)
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