King Harald V of Norway hospitalized with hemolytic anemia

King Harald V of Norway, 89, was admitted to Oslo's Rikshospitalet on Monday with hemolytic anemia, a condition in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than they are produced. The palace said he had been treated with cortisone in recent weeks, which caused fluid retention requiring hospital care. He will be on sick leave for two weeks, during which Crown Prince Haakon will serve as regent. Source: hoydo Source: infobae

Health history

Harald, Europe's oldest reigning monarch, has faced repeated health issues. In February, he was hospitalized in Tenerife for a leg infection and dehydration. Source: abces He has had a bladder tumor removed, a heart valve replaced, and a pacemaker implanted. Source: lavanguardia The palace has not specified when he will resume official duties. Source: lavanguardia

Royal family strain

The hospitalization comes amid broader turmoil for the Norwegian royals. Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 52, recently underwent a lung transplant in June. Source: infobae Her son, Marius Borg Høiby, was sentenced in June to four years in prison for rape and other offenses. Source: clarin Additionally, documents revealed intimate correspondence between Mette-Marit and Jeffrey Epstein. Source: clarin

No abdication

Despite his age and health problems, Harald has repeatedly ruled out abdication, citing his lifelong oath to the Storting. Source: abces Some observers see his resistance as tied to the royal family's recent scandals, as he remains a stabilizing figure. Source: elmundoes