King Harald V, Norway’s 81-year-old monarch, is on sick leave through the end of this week because of what officials at the Royal Palace called “strain and pains in one of his feet.” Crown Prince Haakon was taking over official duties as regent from Wednesday.
The palace wouldn’t elaborate on the brief press release issued Wednesday afternoon. Crown Prince Haakon and his wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, have been on an official visit to the Baltic countries this week and won’t be back in Norway until Thursday.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether any events would need to be cancelled. King Harald was due to host a reception at the Royal Palace in Oslo on Thursday for all recipients of the King’s service medals. He was also expected to conduct the weekly Council of State with the government on Friday but the crown prince will now handle that on his own instead. King Harald was also due to attend 150th anniversary celebrations of Det Norske Samlaget at Det Norske Teatret on Saturday.
Norway’s monarch has had some other ailments recently, including a hospital stay last autumn for an unspecified infection. He underwent surgey for bladder cancer in 2003 but was said to have recovered fully.
newsinenglish.no staff
