Norway’s King Harald underwent surgery to implant a pacemaker in Malaysia during a private vacation on the island of Langkawi. The 87-year-old monarch has had health issues in recent years, including a heart valve replacement in 2020. Despite his health concerns, King Harald has no plans to abdicate and his son, Crown Prince Haakon, has taken over his duties as head of state. The king, who ascended the throne in 1991, is Europe’s oldest reigning monarch and has garnered public support for his compassionate leadership, such as leading mourning ceremonies for victims of tragedies like the 2011 mass killing by Anders Behring Breivik. The king and queen traveled to Malaysia to celebrate his birthday and an evacuation plane from Norway was used to transport him back home. The king’s recovery and return to his duties are awaited by the Norwegian people, who hold him in high regard for his role as a ceremonial head of state.
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Norway’s king’s plane departs Malaysia following pacemaker implantation
