Categories: World

King Harald V of Norway given permanent pacemaker

close Video

Fox News Flash top headlines for March 12

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what’s clicking on Foxnews.com.

Europe’s oldest monarch, King Harald V of Norway, received a permanent pacemaker on Tuesday, the palace said, adding that the monarch will remain in the hospital for a few days.

The 87-year-old underwent the procedure at Oslo’s university hospital, Rikshospitalet, the royal household said in a brief statement.

“The operation was successful, and the King is doing well,” the palace said.

KING HARALD V OF NORWAY HOSPITALIZED WITH INFECTION ON MALAYSIA TRIP

Last month, Harald fell ill during a private holiday with his wife Queen Sonja on the Malaysian resort island of Langkawi. He underwent surgery and received a temporary pacemaker due to a low heart rate.

Harald returned to Norway aboard a medical airplane and was immediately transferred to an Oslo hospital.

Harald V of Norway attends Prince Sverre Magnus’ confirmation service in Oslo, Norway, on Sept. 5, 2020. (Photo by Rune Hellestad/Getty Images)

The king’s doctor, Bjørn Bendz, told a news conference that the king had contracted an undetermined infection in Malaysia.

“We saw that the heart rate was too low, and that is not good in case of an infection. It can affect several organs,” Bendz said. “When people who are almost 90 years old are admitted with an infection, it is always serious.”

Bendz said that the operation went well and lasted an hour.

The monarch has been in frail health in recent years with numerous hospital stays. He had an operation to replace a heart valve in October 2020 after being hospitalized with breathing difficulties.

Harald repeatedly has said he has no plans to abdicate, unlike his second cousin Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, who stepped down earlier this year.

Harald’s duties as Norway’s head of state are ceremonial and he holds no political power. He ascended to the throne following the death of his father, King Olav, in 1991.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

His 50-year-old son, Crown Prince Haakan, is assuming the monarch’s duties.

Share

Recent Posts

Don’t use your home Wi-Fi before fixing certain security risks

Home Wi-Fi networks are the backbone of how most people get online, connecting laptops, phones,…

7 hours ago

Navy solar drone soars nonstop for 3 days

The Navy, working with Skydweller Aero, just reached a major milestone in clean-energy aviation. Its…

13 hours ago

Moving exposes your personal data to scammers

Downsizing should feel like a fresh start. A smaller home, less upkeep, maybe even a…

1 day ago

AI video tech fast-tracks humanoid robot training

One of the biggest hurdles in developing humanoid robots is the sheer amount of training…

2 days ago

10 ways to secure your older Mac from threats and malware

Apple's Mac computers are generally considered more secure than Windows PCs, thanks to the company's…

2 days ago

Solar companies deploy sheep across farms in growing green energy trend

Forget roaring lawnmowers and fuel-guzzling tractors. Today's solar companies are turning to flocks of sheep…

3 days ago