3-3-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) Norway’s King Harald has been discharged from a hospital in Malaysia and is set to return home on a medical evacuation plane, according to reports from Norwegian media. The 87-year-old monarch had been receiving treatment for an infection and was fitted with a temporary pacemaker during his stay.
King Harald, the oldest reigning monarch in Europe, fell ill while visiting the island of Langkawi and was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday. The Norwegian royal palace announced on Saturday that a temporary pacemaker had been implanted to ensure a safer return for the king.
In a statement released on Sunday, the palace confirmed that King Harald would soon be transported to Langkawi Airport for medical evacuation, and the queen would accompany him. Upon their arrival in Norway, the king will be admitted to Rikshospitalet hospital.
The statement further stated that King Harald would be on sick leave for two weeks following his hospitalization. The monarch, who relies on crutches for mobility, has faced several health challenges in recent years.
Earlier in January, King Harald contracted a respiratory infection shortly after dismissing rumors of his potential abdication, following the example of his distant cousin, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.
During King Harald’s absence, Crown Prince Haakon, 50, has assumed the role of regent and has been carrying out official duties on behalf of the monarch.
