- On February 24, news broke that King Harald of Norway was hospitalized while on a private holiday with his wife Queen Sonja in Spain.
- The 89-year-old monarch was later discharged from the hospital on February 26.
- He was treated for an infection and dehydration.
Amid drama surrounding the royal family of Norway connected to Jeffrey Epstein, King Harald was hospitalized during a vacation abroad in Spain.
The Royal House of Norway announced on February 24 that the King, 89, was admitted to the hospital in Tenerife for infection and dehydration. “His Majesty the King was admitted to the Hospital Universitario Hospiten Sur in Tenerife this evening,” the palace said in a statement. “The King is being treated for infection and dehydration, and his condition is reportedly good.”
King Harald on April 8, 2025.
Getty
The statement continued that “The King’s personal physician will travel to Tenerife to assist the local health service. The Royal Couple is currently on a private stay in Tenerife for their winter holiday,” referring to the King and his wife, Queen Sonja.
On February 25, a second statement was released with an update on the King’s health from his doctor, Bjørn Bendz, that read, “The King’s general condition is good, and he is responding well to treatment. The infection stems from a skin infection in one of his legs. The King will remain in the hospital for a few more days for observation and further treatment.”
King Harald and Queen Sonja on December 10, 2025.
Getty
“When people of almost 90 years old are admitted with an infection, it is serious,” the doctor added. “It is important that we get a good overview and control of the King’s health before he is discharged, even if his condition is stable now.”
Then, on February 26, a new statement explained that the King had “recovered quickly” and added that he would be discharged from the hospital on Thursday, though the royal couple would remain on holiday in Tenerife with no decision made yet about when they will return to Norway. The King had plans to remain in Tenerife for a few days to monitor his progress. The couple is staying at Bahia del Duque, a luxury five-star hotel on the Costa Adeje coastline with direct access to the beach, according to Hello!.
Per People, Crown Prince Haakon, the son of the King and Queen and heir to the throne, is acting as regent while his father is away in Spain.
Crown Prince Haakon and King Harald on February 11, 2026.
Getty
News of the King’s hospitalization comes amid a difficult moment for the Norwegian royal family Haakon’s wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, was reportedly named over 1,000 times in the latest tranche of the Epstein files released by the U.S. Department of Justice on January 30. Additionally, Marius Borg Høiby, Mette-Marit’s son from a previous relationship prior to marrying Haakon, is currently on trial in Oslo, Norway on 38 charges, including four counts of rape. The legal proceedings began earlier this month and are expected to last through mid-March.
The hospital King Harald was admitted to in Tenerife, Spain.
Getty
As for the King, he has experienced health battles in recent years. In February 2024, he was hospitalized for an infection while on holiday in Malaysia, and the month prior was put on sick leave due to a respiratory infection. He was also hospitalized for infections in May 2023 and December 2023, and in October 2020 had an operation to replace a heart valve.