Queen Sonja of Norway, 86, Hospitalized Following Ski Incident
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01/13/2025 12:22 PM
The monarch, 87, was discharged the next day
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Queen Sonja of Norway.Queen Sonja of Norway was hospitalized over the weekend following a ski-related incident.
The monarch, 87, was taken to Lillehammer Hospital on Jan. 11 after incurring a flare-up of her existing heart condition while skiing, Sweden Herald reported. The palace later announced that she had been discharged on Jan. 12 after her heart rate returned to normal.
Her condition, atrial fibrillation, occurs with irregular electrical impulses in the atria, according to the United Kingdom's NHS.
"These impulses override the heart's natural pacemaker, which can no longer control the rhythm of the heart. This causes you to have a highly irregular pulse rate," the NHS's site reads.
Related: Meet Norway's Royal Family: All About the 1,000-Year-Old Monarchy
While the exact cause of the condition is unclear, atrial fibrillation most often occurs in older individuals or those with existing chronic conditions.
Royal Court via Getty
Queen Sonja and King Harald V.The queen has long been known for her love of skiing, and has remained active in recent years. Following her hospitalization, Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre told NTB — Norway's news agency — that he wished the monarch a swift return to health and that he "hopes that she will soon be ready for new skiing trips."
Queen Sonja has not experienced any major health concerns in the past, royal expert Trond Norén told the Norwegian outlet.
Her husband, King Harald V, 87, however has experienced a bout of health concerns in the past few years. In March 2024, he received emergency care and a temporary pacemaker for an extremely low heart rate while vacationing in Malaysia — after which he was airlifted back to Norway for further treatment, including receiving a permanent pacemaker.
STIAN LYSBERG SOLUM/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
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King Harald V and Queen Sonja ascended the throne on Jan 17, 1991, following the death of King Harald's father, King Olav V. The pair's reign approaches its 34th year this week.
In the weeks ahead, Queen Sonja's engagement calendar is clear, giving the monarch adequate time to recover.
