King Harald V was rushed to a hospital in Tenerife due to infection and dehydration while on a private holiday, the Royal Palace of Norway confirmed in a statement on Tuesday, February 24. His condition was described as “satisfactory” given the circumstances.
The 89-year-old monarch, Europe’s oldest reigning sovereign, had celebrated his birthday on Saturday and was admitted to the Hospital Universitario Hospiten Sur on the island. His personal physician is expected to travel to Tenerife to assist local medical staff, with an initial health update scheduled for Wednesday.
King Harald and his wife, Queen Sonja, 88, are on vacation on Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands off the northwest coast of Africa. Harald experienced similar health issues two years ago while on holiday in Malaysia.
Since ascending the throne in 1991, Harald has consistently ruled out abdication, citing a lifelong oath to the Norwegian parliament despite his advancing age and frail health.
His current health concerns coincide with a series of controversies surrounding the royal family. Crown Princess Mette-Marit, wife of Crown Prince Haakon, appears in documents linked to the late American convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, revealing an unexpected association.
Additionally, Mette-Marit’s son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby, is facing trial in Oslo on 38 charges, including four counts of rape and assault. The 29-year-old, who is not officially a member of the royal family, denies the most serious allegations.
