Norway’s ageing king Harald V on sick leave because of respiratory infection

Norway’s ageing king Harald V is on sick leave until February 2 because of a respiratory infection, the Norwegian palace has said in a brief statement (Francisco Seco/AP)

Norway’s ageing king Harald V is on sick leave until February 2 because of a respiratory infection, the Norwegian palace has said.

The 86-year-old monarch, who has repeatedly said he has no plans to abdicate unlike his second cousin Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, has been admitted to hospital several times in recent months.