King of Norway hospitalized in Malaysia

King Harald V 

  

King Harald in hospital in Malaysia 

 

Nora Fernstedt  

 

Updated 17.53 | Published 15.52 

Photo: Christine Olsson/TT 

Norway's King Harald, 87, has fallen ill during a holiday in Malaysia.  

 

The king has suffered from an infection and is hospitalized, the Norwegian royal house announces.  

 

The court writes that the king is well taken care of by both Malaysian and Norwegian medical personnel.  

 

The Norwegian king turned 87 barely a week ago. Then it was announced that he was on a trip abroad, and wanted to celebrate his birthday privately. 

 

- The plan was for the king to come home towards the end of this week, but as long as he is in hospital, the crown prince will be regent until the king returns. We don't know how long he has to be there, and he also has a long journey home again, says royal expert Trond Norén Isaksen to VG.

 

Called in sick recently 

 

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre tells VG: 

 

Jonas Gahr Støre. Archive image. Photo: Aftonbladet  

 

- It was sad to hear that King Harald is hospitalized in Malaysia. I want to wish King Harald a speedy recovery and hope that he will be well again soon.  

 

King Harald has had many health problems in recent years. 

 

He last called in sick at the end of January due to a respiratory infection. 

 

In May last year, he was admitted to the National Hospital in Oslo, and six months before that he had to be treated intravenously with antibiotics.  

 

Harald when he got engaged to his Sonja in 1968. Photo: Pressens Bild/TT