14 March 2024

Norway: King Harald discharged from the National Hospital

King Harald was today discharged from Rikshospitalet (the National Hospital) in Oslo, two days after having a permanent pacemaker implanted and 16 days after having fallen ill with an infection during his vacation in Malaysia.

The King discharged from hospital

His Majesty The King has today been discharged from Rikshospitalet and is doing well. The King is on sick leave until Monday, 8 April, for rest and recuperation.

His Royal Highness The Crown Prince Regent will take care of The King's constitutional duties during this period.

14.03.2024

Earlier articles on the King's hospitalisation in Malaysia and at the National Hospital, Norway:

12 March 2024

Norway: Update on King Harald's health situation – permanent pacemaker implanted

The Norwegian Royal Court informed today that King Harald this morning had a permanent pacemaker implanted.

Update on His Majesty King Harald's health situation

His Majesty The King received this morning a permanent pacemaker. The procedure was successful, and His Majesty is doing well. His Majesty will remain in hospital for a few more days.

12.03.2024

In a press conference today, the king's personal physician, Bjørn Bendz, said that the infection that the king had suffered from had affected his heart, which brought about the need for a pacemaker (VG.no).

When the king traveled from Malaysia on a medical plane on 3 March, the court told that the king would be on sick leave for two weeks, meaning that he was expected to return to his duties on 18 March 2024. But according to the physician, King Harald will be on sick leave until some time after Easter.

Earlier articles on the King's hospitalisation in Malaysia and at the National Hospital, Norway:

6 March 2024

Norway: Update on King Harald's health situation (6 March 2024)

The Norwegian Royal Court issued today another press statement concerning King Harald's health situatuion:

Update on The King's health situation

His Majesty The King´s health is steadily improving, and his general condition is satisfactory. The treating physicians are content with the progress. 

The infection is under control, and the pacemaker insertion is likely to take place early next week.

06.03.2024

The court also issued another statement today, in Norwegian only, where the king and queen expresses their thanks for all the care, help and support in connection with the king falling ill on their holiday in Malaysia.

Earlier articles on the King's hospitalisation in Malaysia:

4 March 2024

Norway: King Harald is back in Norway

Just before 11 p.m. yesterday the medical plane which transported King Harald from Langkawi, Malaysia to Norway landed at Oslo Airport Gardermoen. The king was then driven to the National Hospital (Rikshospitalet) in Oslo where he was admitted for further examinations. He was going to stay at the hospital for treatment and rest. Queen Sonja who was also on the plane was taken back to the Royal Palace. According to the press statement which was issued just after the king had arrived, "The transportation went well, and His Majesty’s health is improving."

The Norwegian Armed Forces also produced a press release, informing among others that the medical plane had a medical team consisting of a team leader, two anaesthetists, a nurse anesthetist and two intensive care nurses on board to assist the king.

Today the Royal Palace issued yet another update on the king's health situation:

Update on The King's health situation

His Majesty The King, as informed in recent days, has been suffering from an infection and low heart rate, requiring hospitalization and medical transportation home.

The infection has recently become more under control. His Majesty has a low heart rate and will require a permanent pacemaker.

The timing of the pacemaker implantation will be determined by when His Majesty is completely free from infection. This could take several days, so The King is likely to remain at Rikshospitalet until after the weekend.

Overall, his condition is stable and improving.

04.03.2024

According to Norwegian media, the king has received visits from his nearest family today, including the queen, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Princess Märtha Louise and later in the day also the Crown Prince Regent.

Earlier articles on the King's hospitalisation in Malaysia:

3 March 2024

Norway: King Harald on his way home

Just after 5 a.m. today the Norwegian Royal Court issued a statement informing that King Harald was going home today.

Medical transportation of His Majesty The King

His Majesty The King will soon be on his way to Langkawi Airport for medical transportation. Her Majesty The Queen will accompany His Majesty.

Upon arrival in Norway, His Majesty will be admitted to the hospital Rikshospitalet.

His Majesty will be on sick leave for two weeks. During this period, His Royal Highness The Crown Prince will act as regent and assume His Majesty The King's constitutional duties.

03.03.2024

According to VG.no the king left the hospital in an ambulance at 05:25 Norwegian time (12:25 in Langkawi, Malaysia). The medical plane took off just after 6 a.m. (1 p.m.) and will make a short stop in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates before landing at Oslo Airport Gardermoen around midnight Norwegian time. The king will then be transported to the National Hospital, a department of Oslo University Hospital. The king will be on sick leave for two weeks, meaning that he will return to his duties on Monday 18 March if his health allows it. In the meantime Crown Prince Haakon will continue to serve as regent.

Earlier articles on the King's hospitalisation in Malaysia:

2 March 2024

United Kingdom: Inquest into the death of Thomas Kingston

A inquest into the death of Tom Kingston, who was found dead on Sunday 25 February 2024, was opened on Friday 1 March 2024 at Gloucestershire Coroners Court in Gloucester. In the inquest the senior coroner informed that Mr. Kingston was found dead in an outbuilding on the property of his parents in the Cotswolds "with a catastrophic head injury" with a gun "present at the scene"".

Tom Kingston (full name Thomas Henry Robin Kingston), b. 1978, was married to Lady Gabriella Kingston, née Windsor, b. 1981, a daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, and thus a second cousin to King Charles III.

Sources (see links): BBC News and GloucestershireLive.

Norway: Update on King Harald's health situation – temporary pacemaker implanted

Yesterday the Norwegian Royal Court issued another update on King Harald's health situation:

Update on His Majesty King Harald's health situation

His Majesty The King´s health is still improving. His Majesty will remain at the hospital for a few more days for treatment and rest before returning home to Norway.

01.03.2024 

Today the court could reveal that the king has had a temporary pacemaker implanted:

Update on His Majesty King Harald's health situation

His Majesty The King had a temporary pacemaker implanted today at Hospital Sultanah Maliha in Langkawi. 

–  The pacemaker was implanted due to a low heart rate. The decision was made earlier today, and the procedure was successful. His Majesty is doing well under the circumstances but still requires rest. The procedure will make the return back home safer, according to His Majesty The King's personal physician, Bjørn Bendz. 

The medical transportation to Norway is likely to take place within the next couple of days. 

02.03.2024

The last statement sounds a bit more dramatic than earlier statements which has mainly dealt with the king fallen ill with an infection. But I continue to believe that the king is taken well care of and that he just needs some time to get better again. I suspect, however, that the king will not be able to preside over the Council of State coming Friday as planned, even if he will return home within the next couple of days. He might be on sick leave for a while. We will surely get more information in due course.

Meanwhile the king's health situation, his vacation and the transportation home has been among the topics in the general and social media the last days. First of all, as I have already commented earlier, I don't think the king would have traveled to Malaysia if his health had not allowed it. He was just a bit unlucky that he got ill while on vacation. He should be allowed to go on vacation as everyone else, even if he is 87 years old. 

The media has also covered the flight of the medical plane which has already landed at the Langkawi International Airport. The transportation is said to cost above NOK 2 millions (as of today about 189.222 USD). The expenses will be covered by the defense budget. Of course this is a lot of money, but we are talking about the head of state here, and this is is the most efficient, secure and comfortable way of getting him home. It should not be a discussion about the form of government. A Norwegian president (God forbid!) fallen ill while on vacation would surely also be transported home the same way to make it possible for him or her to resume governing (just as in case of a monarch to resume reigning) as soon as possible.

Earlier articles on the King's hospitalisation in Malaysia: