Norway’s King Harald, 89, has been rushed to hospital on the Spanish island of Tenerife, suffering from an infection and dehydration.

Europe’s oldest head of state was taken to hospital on Tuesday (local time) and is suffering from a skin infection on his ‌leg.

His personal doctor, who Norwegian media reported arrived at his side on Wednesday, said the king was responding well to treatment, though any infection in a man of his age was serious and required close ‌monitoring.

“When people of almost 90 years old are admitted with an infection, it is serious,” physician Bjorn ‌Bendz said in ‌a statement released by ⁠the royal palace.

It said more information would be given on Thursday.

“It is ​important that we get a good overview and control of the king’s health before he is discharged – even if his condition is stable now.”

A couple of Spanish police officers are guarding the main entrance to the hospital, live TV footage showed.

Harald, who has been Norway’s ceremonial head of state since 1991, was also hospitalised in 2024 for an infection ⁠while on holiday in Malaysia, and received a temporary pacemaker there. He ‌was later ​transferred to Norway, where a permanent device was implanted.

Following this episode, the king said he would cut back on official engagements. He has ruled ‌out abdication, insisting his oath as king is for life.

Harald’s calendar has been busy of late, however, with functions at home and in Italy, where he cheered on Norway’s athletes at the Winter Olympics.

His illness comes at a time of multiple challenges for the royal family.

Crown ​Princess ​Mette-Marit, married to Harald’s son Crown Prince Haakon, faces intense scrutiny for her friendship with the late sex ‌offender Jeffrey Epstein, a relationship she has apologised for.

Mette-Marit also has a chronic lung disease that will require her to have a lung transplant.

The princess’ son Marius Hoiby, born from a relationship predating her marriage to Haakon, is on trial for rape and domestic violence.

Hoiby has denied those charges while admitting some lesser crimes.

Support for the monarchy has taken ​a hit in Norway, dropping to 60 per cent in February from 70 per cent the previous month, according to a Norstat poll published on February ​21 by public broadcaster NRK.