In brief
King Harald V is now receiving antibiotic treatment for a bloodstream bacterial infection and has been placed on sick leave at Oslo University Hospital. The 89‑year‑old monarch, who has faced haemolytic anaemia and a pacemaker insertion, will remain out of public view until his condition improves. Crown Prince Haakon has stepped in as regent. The 2026 royal household also contends with Crown Princess Mette‑Marit’s lung transplant and her son’s criminal conviction, while links to the late Jeffrey Epstein are resurfacing. The palace said the king will stay on leave until further notice.
The palace announced that King Harald V’s condition has worsened after he was treated for a bloodstream bacterial infection. The monarch will continue to receive antibiotics at Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, and will remain on leave from all royal duties until further notice.
King Harald, 89, has been monarch since 1991 and first entered hospital care earlier this year. He had previously been dealing with haemolytic anaemia—a rare blood condition that reduces red‑cell count, causing fatigue and shortness of breath—and received a pacemaker after a holiday illness in Malaysia.
With the king on sick leave, Crown Prince Haakon, 53, has taken on the role of regent, overseeing the kingdom’s day‑to‑day affairs.
The royal family has endured a challenging 2026. Crown Princess Mette‑Marit received a lung transplant in June following a diagnosis of a rare pulmonary fibrosis in 2018. Two days earlier, her son, Marius Borg Høiby, was sentenced to four years in prison for two counts of rape. Høiby, who was only four when his mother married Crown Prince Haakon, has no royal title.
Earlier this year, documents emerged that Mette‑Marit had frequent contact with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. She later apologized for the relationship, calling her judgement poor and expressing regret in a national TV interview.
The palace reiterated that the king will remain on leave until his medical status improves, and that the royal household is monitoring his progress closely.
