King Harald
The monarch underwent successful surgery
King Harald underwent a successful operation.
© imago images/NTB
King Harald underwent another operation. He has received a permanent pacemaker, as the Norwegian royal family announced.
King Harald of Norway (87) had a permanent pacemaker implanted this Tuesday (March 12). The royal family announced this. The operation was successful. “His Majesty is well,” the statement said. According to media reports, the operation took place at Rikshospitalet in Oslo. The palace announced that the monarch would remain in the hospital for a few more days.
Monarch fell ill while on vacation
King Harald fell ill while on vacation in Malaysia at the end of February and was treated in a hospital there for several days due to an infection. On March 2, the Norwegian royal family announced that the monarch had been fitted with a temporary pacemaker at the Sultanah Maliha Hospital in Langkawi – “due to a low heart rate,” as it was said.
At the beginning of March, the sick king traveled home with his wife, Queen Sonja (86). After his arrival in Norway, Harald was admitted to the Rikshospitalet in Oslo. In a statement at the time, the palace also said that the king would be on sick leave for two weeks. During this time, Crown Prince Haakon (50) will take over the king’s duties as regent.
Address to the Norwegian people
After his return home, the Norwegian king also commented personally on his state of health. In a message to his people, he spoke of a “difficult situation” in which he had found himself. In his speech, he thanked everyone who supported him with advice, support and medical help. He said it was both his great need and that of his wife, Queen Sonja, to thank everyone for their “care, help and support in connection with the illness” during his vacation in Malaysia.