Queen Sonja of Norway had a medical scare following the Easter holiday.
On April 21, the Royal House of Norway announced that Queen Sonja, 87, had been admitted to the hospital after experiencing shortness of breath.
“Her Majesty the Queen was admitted to the National Hospital this evening for examinations due to shortness of breath,” the palace said in a statement, per a translation. “The Queen was transported by air ambulance from the Prince’s Cabin in Sikkilsdalen, where the Royal Couple spent the Easter holiday.”
Queen Sonja is the wife of King Harald, and the Prince’s Cabin is their private chalet in the mountains of Jotunheimen. The royal couple privately celebrated Easter there on April 20, and the hospital where Sonja was airlifted would have been a four-hour drive from Sikkilsdalen.
On April 22, the court shared the reassuring news that the Queen was discharged from the medical center.
“Her Majesty the Queen has been discharged from the National Hospital. The Queen was admitted due to shortness of breath,” they said in the latest statement.
“Investigations show that the situation has normalized. The Queen is on sick leave for the rest of the week,” they continued.
The update comes as Queen Sonja’s second hospitalization of the year. In January, the Norwegian Queen reportedly experienced a flare-up of her existing heart condition while she was skiing. The Queen has atrial fibrillation, which the Mayo Clinic defines as an irregular and often rapid heart rhythm that can lead to blood clots in the heart and increase the risk of other heart-related complications.
The Royal House of Norway announced on Jan. 14 that she would have a pacemaker inserted at the National Hospital on Jan. 16. The court later updated that she was in “good health” and able to go home on Jan. 17.
Queen Sonja’s most recent public appearance was on April 9 during Icelandic President Halla Tómasdóttir’s official state visit to Norway.
The itinerary of the three-day stay was designed to highlight Iceland and Norway’s close ties and rich history, underscoring the importance of Nordic cooperation through uncertain times.
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King Harald, Queen Sonja, their son, Crown Prince Haakon, his wife Crown Princess Mette-Marit and their 21-year-old daughter Princess Ingrid Alexandra were all involved in the state visit, which was capped with a glam gala dinner at the Royal Palace on April 9 — tiaras included!
The state visit was also signigifant as Princess Ingrid Alexandra’s first time officially participating in an incoming diplomatic trip, marking an important first for the future queen.
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