Queen Sonja has been admitted to hospital for heart issues, the royal palace has confirmed. The 88-year-old was admitted to the National Hospital on Wednesday.
In a statement, the Palace said: "Her Majesty the Queen was admitted to the National Hospital today due to heart problems. The Queen has heart fibrillation and heart failure, and has been hospitalised for a few days for examinations and observation."
The royal's hospitalisation comes just a week after she was forced to cancel engagements, including a lunch with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At the time, the Palace said this was due to heart fibrillation and that her future engagements are not expected to be affected.
Sonja has suffered from atrial fibrillation before and was hospitalised during a ski trip in January 2025. She spent a few hours in the hospital before her heartbeat returned to normal, before scheduled surgery to implant a pacemaker at Rikshospitalet in Oslo.
Despite the royal's hospital admission, her husband, King Harald, 89, is due to continue with his engagements, including to Vestland, a county in the west of the country.
Norwegian royal health
Sonja was hospitalised last year following breathing difficulties, with the royal being transported to the Rikshospitalet by air ambulance.
An official statement from the Norwegian Royal Household said: "Her Majesty the Queen has been discharged from the National Hospital. The Queen was admitted due to shortness of breath. Investigations have shown that the situation has normalized. The Queen is on sick leave for the rest of the week."
© Getty ImagesHowever, Sonja isn't the only Norwegian royal facing health difficulties. Speaking to press on Tuesday, Crown Prince Haakon said that his wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit was "seriously ill" with her condition worsening.
He explained: "The Crown Princess is seriously ill, and I think she has gotten a bit worse lately. So I am worried about her health. She uses oxygen in her everyday life, and that helps a bit. And these six months have gone pretty well, I think. But there are different phases. So we just have to try to solve it as best we can."
© GettyMette-Marit was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018. In the autumn, the Palace revealed that her condition had worsened. She is currently on the waiting list for a lung transplant, but Haakon wasn't sure when this will take place.
Meanwhile, Harald has had several hospital admissions during recent years. Back in February, he was admitted and treated for an infection and dehydration at the Hospital Universitario Hospiten Sur in Tenerife, where he has been holidaying.
At the time, the palace said his condition was "good". An official press release shared later stated that the King has been "responding well" to treatment and has "recovered quickly".
The update read: "Today he will be discharged from the hospital. Nevertheless, the royal couple will continue their private stay in Tenerife. No decision has yet been made about when they will return home. The King's doctor will remain in Tenerife for a few days to monitor his progress."
