King Harald V of Norway, hospitalized in Malaysia, was implanted with a temporary pacemaker

King Harald V of Norway, who fell ill while on holiday in Malaysia, had a “temporary” pacemaker implanted due to a “low heart rate,” the Norwegian royal palace said in a press release this Saturday. “Her Majesty is doing well under the circumstances but still needs to rest,” the royal palace detailed, indicating the operation was a success.

Harald V’s return to Norway is planned “in the coming days”, with a “medical transport” planned. The irregular flight, according to a Malaysian air traffic controller interviewed by AFP, was a SAS medical plane that landed on Friday morning on the island of Langkawi, in northwest Malaysia.

At 87, he is Europe’s oldest monarch. He was hospitalized on Tuesday “due to an infection.” The next day the royal palace announced that Harald V “will [remettait] GOOD.” This Friday, in another press release, the Royal Palace assured that the monarch’s health continues to “improve” but he wishes to “stay in hospital for a few more days to heal and rest” before repatriation to Norway.

Traveling on a crutch

King Harald, who uses crutches, has had increasing health problems and sick leave in recent years, including heart surgery and suffering from various respiratory illnesses and infections. At the end of January, he had to stop working for several days due to a respiratory infection.

Having been on the throne for 33 years, on February 21, the king blew out his 87th candle. He ruled out abdicating in late January in his first public appearance since the surprise departure to Denmark of his distant relative, Queen Margrethe II. “I stand by what I have always said, namely that I took the oath of office to the Storting. (Norwegian unicameral parliament, editor’s note) and that it lasts a lifetime,” he justified. In his absence, the 50-year-old Crown Prince Haakon takes over the regency.