Having fallen ill in Malaysia where he was on vacation, the King of Norway Harald V had a “temporary” pacemaker implanted because of “a low heart rate,” the Norwegian royal palace announced this Saturday in a press release. .
“Her Majesty is doing well in these circumstances but still needs rest,” details the royal palace, which indicates that the operation went well.
Harald V's return to Norway is planned "in the coming days", with "medical transport" planned.
A non-scheduled flight, according to a Malaysian air traffic controller interviewed by AFP, of a medical plane from the airline SAS, landed Friday morning on the island of Langkawi, in the northwest of Malaysia.
At 87, he is the oldest monarch in Europe.
He was hospitalized on Tuesday “for an infection”.
The next day, the royal palace indicated that Harald V was “recovering well”.
This Friday, in another press release, the royal palace assured that the monarch's state of health continued to "improve" but that he wished to "stay in the hospital for a few more days to heal and rest." before repatriation to Norway.
Crutch travel
King Harald, who uses crutches, has suffered increased health problems and sick leave in recent years: he notably underwent heart surgery and suffered from various respiratory problems and infections.
At the end of January, he had to stop for several days due to a respiratory infection.
Also read: King Harald V of Norway hospitalized for an infection during his vacation in Malaysia
On the throne for 33 years, the king blew out his 87th candle on February 21.
He ruled out abdicating at the end of January during his first public intervention since the surprise departure to Denmark of his distant cousin, Queen Margrethe II.
“I stick to what I have always said, namely that I took an oath to the Storting
(the Norwegian unicameral Parliament, editor's note)
and that it lasts for life,” he explained.
In his absence, Crown Prince Haakon, 50, assumes regency.