After heart surgery

King Harald returns from sick leave

Norwegian King Harald V intends to resume his duties as head of state next week after weeks of sick leave. "I can confirm that the king will return to work on Monday," said spokeswoman Sara Svanemyr on Friday, without giving any further details on the 87-year-old monarch's state of health.

Harald V fell ill with an infection during a private trip to Malaysia at the end of February. Back in Norway, he was fitted with a permanent pacemaker in March. After his release from hospital, he initially did not attend any public appointments.

Return postponed several times
His return to his official duties was postponed several times. According to the official palace program, the King will now receive the Chief of Staff of the Norwegian Army and two other high-ranking officers for an audience on Monday.

Harald V is the oldest reigning monarch in Europe. The Norwegian head of state walks with crutches and has repeatedly struggled with health problems in recent years. He has already undergone heart surgery and repeatedly suffered from respiratory infections.

Harald is not planning to abdicate
In such cases, he is represented by his son, the 50-year-old Crown Prince Haakon. However, he rejected speculation about an abdication in January.