King hospitalized in Spain, royal family confirms

The royal palace has confirmed that Norway’s King Harald V, who recently celebrated his 89th birthday, has been taken to hospital for an infection and dehydration while on a private holiday on the Spanish island in Tenerife.

The palace announced on Tuesday, "His condition, given the circumstances, is satisfactory."

According to a report by the AFP, the oldest of Europe´s sovereigns was admitted to the Hospital Universitario Hospiten Sur on the island.

His personal doctor was due to travel to Tenerife to support the Spanish health services, with an initial health report due on Wednesday.

He and his wife, Queen Sonja, 88, are currently wintering on Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands off the coast of west Africa.

Harald experienced similar health problems two years ago while on holiday in Malaysia.

Following that infection, he had a pacemaker fitted and scaled back his official engagements.

Since ascending to the throne in 1991, Harald has always ruled out abdicating despite his frail health, arguing that he took a lifelong oath before the Norwegian parliament.

His latest health issues come with the monarchy mired in scandals.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who married Harald´s son, Crown Prince Haakon, in 2001, appears multiple times in documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein, revealing an unsuspected closeness with the late offender.

Mette-Marit´s son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Hoiby, is currently on trial on 38 charges in Oslo, including four rapes and assaults.

The 29-year-old, who is not a member of the royal family, denies the most serious charges.

The popularity of the Norwegian royal family has fallen to its lowest level, according to a poll published on Saturday by public broadcaster NRK.

"I wish our king a speedy recovery," Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told Norwegian public broadcaster NRK while on a visit to Ukraine.