King Harald’s health causes real concern across Norway

Politicians and clergy have returned to Norway after the health
of King Harald worsened.

Early this morning, the Royal Court in Oslo announced that
Harald V’s condition had deteriorated.

The royal family rushed to his side with Queen Sonja and Crown
Prince Haakon both cancelling engagements to get to the
Rikshospitalet in Oslo.

King Harald has been in hospital for ten days. He was admitted
after treatment for a form of anaemia led to fluid retention.
Earlier this week, his doctors announced that he had developed a
bloodstream infection and was now being treated with
antibiotics.

They had said he was responding to the treatment but his health
worsened.

As people waited for news of the king, they made their wav to
the royal palace in Norway to leave flowers and candles.

Norwegian TV broadcast non stop coverage of the developments
around King Harald’s health.

And Sweden’s royals said they were following the situation
closely.

In the middle of the afternoon, Crown Prince Haakon was seen
leaving the hospital as were his two children, second in line to
the throne, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, and her brother, Prince
Sverre Magnus.

Soon afterwards, the Royal Court in Oslo said there was no
change in King Harald’s health but added that Queen Sonja and Crown
Prince Haakon had cancelled their engagements for tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Store,
cancelled an overseas visit as did the President of the Storting,
Norway’s parliament.

Norwegian bishops who were overseas were also called back to
Norway.

Harald, 89, has had a series of health problems in recent years
but his current condition is extremely serious.

He has been visited today by his daughter, Princess Martha
Louise, who is also looking after her husband, Durek Verrett, who
has just undergone a kidney transplant.

Harald became King of Norway in January 1991 and is a hugely
popular figure among people in Norway.

As people spoke about him after news of his health deterioration
broke, one word used by almost all was ”fantastic”, to describe him
both as a king and as a person.