Swedish royal family sends support to King Harald

The Swedish Royal Family is sending its support to King Harald and the Norwegian Royal Family as the health of Norway's King deteriorated while in hospital and his condition is now "very serious."

The Swedish royal family spokesperson said: “The Swedish Royal Court is monitoring reports regarding King Harald’s health.

"Our royal family is in close contact with the Norwegian royal family and offers its full support."

Europe's oldest living monarch and Norway's ceremonial head of state since 1991, Harald was taken to hospital on August 17. The palace said he was being treated for a bacterial infection in his blood.

Crown Prince Haakon and Harald's wife, Queen Sonja, have both cancelled all planned events, the palace said in a statement.

Members of Harald's ⁠family, including the crown prince and the queen, were seen arriving at the Oslo University Hospital where ⁠the king is being treated, Norwegian media reported.

The palace said on Sunday that he was receiving antibiotics for a bacterial infection in his blood and that he had responded to the treatment.

Harald, who ascended the Norwegian throne in 1991, has had multiple health problems in recent years, forcing him to have a pacemaker fitted and to scale back his official schedule.

In 2024, the king said he would reduce the number of official activities in which he takes part out of consideration for his age, but he ruled out abdication, saying his oath as king was for life.