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Norway’s King Harald V Released from Spanish Hospital, Continues Vacation
Norway’s King Harald V has been discharged from a hospital in Spain’s Canary Islands after receiving treatment for a skin infection, the Norwegian royal palace announced Thursday. The 89-year-old monarch, who celebrated his birthday last weekend, was admitted to the hospital in Tenerife on Tuesday.
According to the palace statement, the king responded well to treatment and recovered quickly from the infection, which affected one of his legs. King Harald and Queen Sonja plan to continue their private vacation in the Canary Islands, though no official decision has been made regarding their return date to Norway.
The royal’s personal physician, Dr. Bjørn Bendz, traveled to Tenerife on Wednesday to oversee the king’s care. The palace confirmed that Dr. Bendz will remain on the island for several more days to monitor the king’s condition as a precautionary measure.
This incident marks the latest in a series of health challenges for the aging monarch. Two years ago, King Harald fell ill during a private trip to Malaysia with Queen Sonja, requiring emergency medical intervention. During that episode, doctors implanted a temporary pacemaker before he was transported back to Norway aboard a specialized medical aircraft for the placement of a permanent pacemaker.
King Harald has ruled Norway since 1991, making him one of Europe’s longest-serving current monarchs. His three-decade reign has been marked by efforts to modernize the monarchy while maintaining its traditional ceremonial role in Norwegian society. The king remains a widely respected figure in Norway, where the monarchy serves as an important symbol of national unity and continuity.
The king’s hospitalization comes during a particularly tumultuous period for the Norwegian royal family, which has faced several controversies in recent months. Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who is married to Crown Prince Haakon, the heir to the throne, has recently encountered renewed scrutiny over her past associations with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The palace has previously acknowledged these meetings but maintained they were brief social encounters before the full extent of Epstein’s crimes became widely known.
Adding to the royal family’s challenges, Mette-Marit’s son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby, is currently standing trial in Oslo. Høiby faces serious charges including rape allegations, creating additional pressure on the royal household. While Høiby is not officially part of the royal family, the case has nonetheless attracted significant media attention within Norway and internationally.
These controversies have complicated what has otherwise been a generally stable and popular monarchy under King Harald’s leadership. Throughout his reign, the king has worked to balance the traditional ceremonial aspects of his role with efforts to keep the monarchy relevant in a modern democratic society.
Despite these challenges, the Norwegian monarchy continues to enjoy broad public support. Recent polls indicate that most Norwegians favor maintaining the constitutional monarchy, seeing it as an important institution that provides stability and represents Norwegian traditions.
The palace has indicated it will provide updates on the king’s condition as warranted, though officials emphasized that his recovery appears to be proceeding well.
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15 Comments
It’s good to hear the Norwegian king is on the mend. Skin infections can be quite serious, so I’m glad the doctors were able to get him stabilized. Hopefully he can enjoy the rest of his time in the Canaries.
Wishing King Harald a full and speedy recovery. Skin infections can be quite serious, especially for elderly royals. Glad to hear he’s responding well to treatment and able to continue his vacation.
Wishing King Harald a full recovery from this skin infection. As an elderly royal, his health is certainly a matter of national importance in Norway. Glad to hear the treatment is working and he can resume his vacation.
Skin infections can be tricky, especially for someone of the king’s advanced age. I’m glad the treatment seems to be working and he’s able to continue his vacation. Wishing him all the best.
It’s good to see the Norwegian king is being well cared for. Skin infections can be tricky, but it sounds like the doctors are on top of it. Wishing him all the best in his continued recovery.
The king’s health is certainly a matter of national importance in Norway. I hope the medical team is closely monitoring his condition and that he’s able to fully recover and resume his royal duties.
The king’s health is certainly a matter of interest for the Norwegian people. I’m glad to hear the treatment for his skin infection seems to be working and that he’s able to continue his vacation. Wishing him all the best.
Interesting to hear about the king’s skin infection. I wonder if the warm climate in the Canary Islands played a role. Glad the treatment seems to be working and he can enjoy the rest of his vacation. Wishing him a full recovery.
It’s good to see the Norwegian king is getting the care he needs. Skin infections can be quite stubborn, so I hope the doctors are able to fully resolve this issue before he returns home.
The king’s health is an important matter for Norway. I hope the medical team is closely monitoring his condition and that he is able to return home safely once he’s fully recovered.
It’s good to see the Norwegian king is getting the care he needs. Skin infections can be stubborn, so I hope the doctors are able to fully resolve this issue before he returns home. Wishing him all the best in his continued recovery.
Skin infections can be quite serious, especially for elderly royals. I’m glad to hear King Harald is responding well to treatment and able to resume his vacation in the Canary Islands. Wishing him a full and speedy recovery.
Interesting to hear about the king’s skin infection. I wonder if the warm climate in the Canary Islands played a role. Glad the treatment seems to be working and he can enjoy the rest of his vacation.
Skin infections can be tricky, especially for someone of the king’s advanced age. I hope the medical team is closely monitoring his condition and that he’s able to make a full recovery before returning home to Norway.
Skin infections can be quite serious, especially for an elderly royal like King Harald. Kudos to the medical team for getting him back on his feet quickly. Wishing him a full and speedy recovery.