Palace shares latest update on King's health

The palace has announced that Norwegian King Harald's health has 'deteriorated' in hospital due to complications from a blood condition.

The palace said in a statement the health of Norway's 89-year-old King Harald V "deteriorated" over the weekend.

As per reports, Europe's oldest reigning monarch is being treated for haemolytic anaemia, a condition caused by an abnormally rapid destruction of red blood cells which leads to fatigue, paleness and shortness of breath.

The statement reads, "His Majesty the King's health deteriorated over the weekend.

"The King is receiving antibiotics for a bacterial infection in his blood and has responded to this treatment."

The King was admitted to Oslo University Hospital on Monday due to fluid retention from the cortisone treatment he is receiving and placed on sick leave for two weeks, the AFP reported.

The palace has previously said the king had cancelled his visit to the central region of Trondelag scheduled for September 1 and 2 -- after the end of the previously announced sick leave period.

Several members of his family have visited him in hospital.

The Verdens Gang newspaper reported that his wife, Queen Sonja, their son Crown Prince Haakon -- who is acting as regent in Harald's absence -- and Haakon's wife Crown Princess Mette-Marit visited him on Sunday, as did the king's sister.

None of them made a statement upon leaving the hospital.