King Harald's health worsened over weekend, palace says

Norway's King Harald V's health worsened over the weekend, and the 89-year-old monarch is receiving antibiotics for a bacterial infection in his blood, the palace said on August 23.

The palace said Harald had responded to the antibiotic treatment. He is in Oslo University Hospital, where he is being treated for haemolytic anaemia, a condition involving the rapid destruction of red blood cells.

Harald was admitted to hospital on August 17 because of fluid retention linked to cortisone treatment and was placed on sick leave for two weeks. The palace had previously said he canceled a visit to Trondelag scheduled for September 1 and 2.

Crown Prince Haakon, Harald's son, is serving as regent while the king is absent. Harald became king in 1991 and has had several health problems in recent years, but has repeatedly ruled out abdicating.