Pacemaker

Norway’s King (87) on his way home after illness

The Norwegian King Harald (87) has been fitted with a temporary pacemaker in Malaysia.(Bild: CORNELIUS POPPE / NTB / AFP)

The Norwegian King Harald V is on his way home after falling ill while on vacation in Malaysia and having a temporary pacemaker fitted. The 87-year-old will be taken to hospital in Oslo and will then be on sick leave for two weeks, the royal family announced on Sunday. During this time, Crown Prince Haakon (50) will take over the king's constitutional duties as regent.

A medical plane operated by the Scandinavian airline SAS took off from Langkawi Airport in Malaysia early on Sunday morning (CET), as reported by the newspaper "Verdens Gang". After a stopover in the United Arab Emirates, the King was expected to arrive in Oslo around midnight.

In addition to the monarch, his wife Queen Sonja (86) was also on board. The plane landed at Langkawi Airport on Friday.

King Harald V.(Bild: CORNELIUS POPPE / NTB / AFP)

A Boeing 737-700 of Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) carrying the Norwegian King Harald V. at Langkawi Airport(Bild: AFP)

Temporary pacemaker inserted
Harald had fallen ill with an infection during a vacation trip to Malaysia and was taken to hospital there. He was then fitted with a temporary pacemaker on Saturday. The operation will make the journey home safer, said Harald's anesthetist Björn Bend in a statement on Saturday. The royal family had previously announced that the head of state was planning a private trip abroad.

King Harald is the oldest monarch in Europe. He has been struggling with his health for some time. Most recently, he was plagued by a respiratory infection in winter. Harald has been on the Norwegian throne since 1991, when he took over from his father King Olav V.