King Harald of Norway's Health Gets Worse
The health of King Harald of Norway has become worse, according to recent reports. The king suffers from a blood disease.
He remains admitted to hospital and has not been released yet. Doctors are continuing to treat him.
Because of his illness, Harald has cancelled his agenda for September. This means he will not attend planned public events next month.
Princess Mette-Marit, his daughter-in-law, has left her refuge at Skaugum palace to visit him in hospital. She had been staying there quietly.
Mette-Marit recently had a lung transplant, a serious operation to replace a damaged lung with a healthy one. After such surgery, patients usually need a long period of rest and recovery.
Despite her own recovery, she chose to visit the king. This shows how concerned the royal family is about Harald's condition.
No further details about the exact nature of his blood disease have been given in current reports. The situation continues to be watched closely by the public and media in Norway.
Vocabulary10 words
- blood
- the red liquid inside the body
- admitted
- allowed to stay in hospital for treatment
- agenda
- a list of planned activities or events
- refuge
- a safe, quiet place away from others
- lung
- a body part used for breathing
- transplant
- an operation to put a healthy body part into a person
- surgery
- a medical operation on the body
- recovery
- the process of getting better after being sick
- royal family
- a king or queen and their relatives
- condition
- the state of someone's health
Quiz
Answer key
1. It has worsened 2. To visit King Harald in hospital 3. A lung transplant
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The health of King Harald of Norway has become worse, according to recent _____. The king suffers from a blood disease.
He remains _____ to hospital and has not been released yet. Doctors are continuing to treat him.
Because of his illness, Harald has cancelled his _____ for September. This means he will not attend planned public events next month.
Princess Mette-Marit, his daughter-in-law, has left her refuge at Skaugum _____ to visit him in hospital. She had been staying there quietly.
Mette-Marit recently had a lung _____, a serious operation to replace a damaged lung with a healthy one.
After such surgery, patients usually need a long period of rest and _____.
Despite her own recovery, she chose to visit the _____. This shows how concerned the royal family is about Harald's condition.
The situation continues to be watched closely by the public and _____ in Norway.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think the royal family wanted to keep this news public?
- How might a serious illness affect a public figure's work and duties?
- What challenges do people face after a major operation like a lung transplant?
- Why might Mette-Marit have chosen to visit despite her own recovery?