The Palace: The King's Condition Is Unchanged
Photo: NTB
King Harald's condition is unchanged, the Royal Palace announced on Thursday afternoon. The royal family gathered at Rikshospitalet through the day, and all official engagements have been cancelled for the next two weeks.
"The King's condition is unchanged." That was the message from the Royal Palace in a brief update on Thursday afternoon, hours after his condition was described as very serious in the morning. Communications director Guri Varpe had no further comments.
King Harald has been in hospital at Rikshospitalet since August 17. Photo: NTB
The entire royal family gathered around the King at Rikshospitalet through the day. Queen Sonja (89) has been at her husband's side, and Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit arrived with their children Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, as well as Marius Borg Høiby. The King's sister Princess Astrid (94) and his granddaughter Leah Isadora Behn (21) also came to the hospital.
Princess Märtha Louise was also with her father. Her manager, Carina Scheele Carlsen, confirmed to VG: "Princess Märtha Louise is with her father together with her family." The Princess's husband Durek Verrett is himself hospitalised following a recent kidney transplant.
Through the afternoon the family left the hospital. Marius Borg Høiby left Rikshospitalet just before 4 pm, and shortly afterwards the Crown Prince family also went home. Crown Prince Haakon arrived at Skaugum around 4.40 pm, at about the same time as Princess Ingrid Alexandra left the hospital.
The 89-year-old King has been hospitalised since Monday, August 17, following several weeks of treatment for haemolytic anaemia. On Sunday the Palace announced that he had also developed a bacterial infection in his blood, and that he is being treated with antibiotics.
The Palace has cancelled all official engagements for the next two weeks. Among the cancellations are Thursday's ambassador audiences, the Queen's board meeting for the Queen Sonja Print Award, the Kavli Prize audience and the Crown Prince Regent's visit to Færder National Park. The Queen's visits to Rindal and Høylandet in Trøndelag have been postponed.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has also changed his plans: he cancelled his planned trip to Germany, and sent warm thoughts to the King.
Crown Prince Haakon is serving as regent and carrying out the King's constitutional duties. RoyMob is following the story.