Queen Sonja of Norway has been hospitalized after a new health update from the Norwegian Royal House. The 88-year-old queen was admitted to the National Hospital on May 27 due to heart problems, according to People. The admission came just days after the palace said she was on sick leave for a week following examinations that found atrial fibrillation and heart failure. The queen had already stepped back from public duties, and the latest development places fresh focus on the health of one of Europe’s longest-serving royal figures.
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Queen Sonja Enters National Hospital in Oslo
The palace first said, "Her Majesty the Queen was admitted to the National Hospital today due to heart problems," according to People. Before that hospitalization, another official statement made clear that doctors had ordered rest and changes to her treatment plan. "Her Majesty the Queen is, following examinations at the National Hospital today, on sick leave for a week due to atrial fibrillation and heart failure. The Queen needs rest and adjustment of her medication," said the Royal House according to People Magazine. The update led to immediate changes in her schedule.
Queen Sonja Cancels Duties After Heart Diagnosis
The queen canceled official engagements the day after the earlier health bulletin. One of the affected appearances was a planned meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The pause in duties marks another interruption in a royal calendar that had already been affected by medical concerns in recent months. While the palace has not outlined how long her broader recovery may take, the decision to clear her schedule points to a period of close monitoring. At 88, any hospital admission involving heart failure and atrial fibrillation is likely to be treated with caution.
Queen Sonja Had a Pacemaker Installed in 2025
This is not the first major health issue for the queen in the past year. In January 2025, she had a pacemaker installed after experiencing atrial fibrillation during a ski vacation. That episode required an airlift to a hospital in Lillehammer. A few months later, during the royal family’s Easter break in Jotunheimen, she was airlifted again after suffering shortness of breath. Those incidents now form part of a broader medical picture, with the latest hospitalization showing that her heart condition has continued to require treatment and careful follow-up from doctors.
Norway’s Royal Family Faces Wider Health Strain
The queen’s hospitalization comes during a demanding stretch for the Norwegian monarchy. King Harald has also dealt with several health problems in recent years, including surgery, COVID infections and pacemaker treatment, and he was hospitalized in February 2026 while on vacation in Tenerife. The family has also been dealing with concerns around Crown Princess Mette-Marit, whose chronic pulmonary fibrosis has worsened. With senior royals facing overlapping health issues, the pressure on the institution has grown as public appearances and official duties become harder to maintain on a regular basis.
