King Harald hospitalised as son becomes regent

Norway's 89-year-old King Harald was hospitalised Monday and placed on sick leave for two weeks, the royal palace said.

The palace said Harald is suffering from haemolytic anaemia, a condition caused by unusually rapid destruction of red blood cells that can lead to fatigue, paleness and shortness of breath.

The palace said the king had been treated with cortisone in recent weeks and that the treatment had led to fluid retention requiring hospital care.

Crown Prince Haakon, Harald's son, will serve as regent during the king's sick leave.

Harald, Europe's longest-serving monarch, became king in 1991. He has had several health problems in recent years, including the fitting of a pacemaker, and has reduced his official schedule. He has ruled out abdicating, saying he took a lifelong oath before the Norwegian Parliament.

In February, Harald was hospitalised for an infection and dehydration in Tenerife while on a private trip with Queen Sonja.