The 87-year-old monarch would actually resume his duties from today.
After King Harald received a permanent pacemaker last month, he would resume his official duties as king from today. Nevertheless, the Norwegian court shared a new update on his health last weekend: his sick leave will be extended for a while.
Health
At the end of February, the Norske Kongehus shared bad news about King Harald: during his holiday in beautiful Malaysia, the monarch unexpectedly had to be admitted to hospital due to an infection. “The king is receiving good guidance from both Malaysian and Norwegian medical staff,” the statement said. Ultimately, Harald was fitted with a temporary pacemaker here.
It didn’t take long before Harald was back in his own country, where he was admitted to hospital to continue his recovery. The Norwegian court therefore shared a cautiously positive update: the infection seemed to be under control, and work could begin towards a new operation.
Sick leave extended
It has now been almost a month since the last procedure, in which Harald received a permanent pacemaker. Today the king was supposed to resume his duties, but that effort turned out to be a bit too enthusiastic.
The Norwegian court announced last Saturday, two days beforehand, that he will rest for another two weeks after his hospitalization, until April 22.
Crown Prince Haakon’s dear son will continue to rule temporarily while his father continues to recover. The palace has also confirmed that other members of the royal family, such as Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Queen Sonja, will take over important duties from the king in the coming weeks.
Satisfying
Of course it was quite a shock for the Norwegian royals and the rest of the population. Although Harald has been struggling with his health for some time, the situation has never seemed as serious as it does now. The Norwegians have expressed their support for the monarch and his family in all kinds of ways. After this outpouring of get-well wishes, the royal couple responded via Instagram to show their gratitude.
“We would like to thank you for all your care, help and support during the King’s illness during our holiday in Malaysia. We have felt the warmth of the Norwegian people during this time. We have been touched and strengthened by this strong commitment. I thank you all for the care you have shown us as a family.” The medical staff at the hospital in Malaysia could also count on a heartfelt thank you from the Kongehus.
Although the king will remain out of the picture for a while, fortunately the situation is improving. We hope for a speedy recovery!
Source: Hello Magazine, The Royal House of Norway, Archive | Image: NL Image
