King Harald V of Norway is in an extremely serious condition at Oslo University Hospital, prompting senior members of the royal family to cancel engagements and gather at his bedside. His worsening health matters because the 89-year-old is Europe’s oldest head of state and has reigned since 1991, with Crown Prince Haakon acting as regent during his absence.

The King has spent more than a week receiving treatment for haemolytic anaemia, a rare blood condition that reduces red blood cells and can cause fatigue and breathlessness; he has recently been treated with cortisone. He has faced several health problems in recent years, including receiving a pacemaker in 2024, while Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said the nation was sending its thoughts to the King and royal family.