In a surprising turn of events, King Harald of Norway was implanted with a temporary pacemaker at a hospital in Malaysia's resort island of Langkawi. The Norwegian royal house confirmed that the pacemaker was necessary due to a low heart rate, and the procedure, conducted at Hospital Sultanah Maliha, was successful.

Following the operation, the 87-year-old monarch is expected to be transported back to Norway in the coming days. While the king is said to be doing well under the circumstances, his personal physician, Bjørn Bendz, emphasized the importance of rest and assured that the procedure would make the return home safer.

Norwegian media outlets previously reported that Harald had fallen ill during a private vacation in Langkawi, where he was celebrating his 87th birthday. The exact destination and dates of the trip were not disclosed, but the Norwegian government arranged for a Scandinavian Airlines medical evacuation plane to transport the king from Oslo to Langkawi.

This is not the first time King Harald has faced health issues. In October 2020, he underwent an operation to replace a heart valve after being hospitalized for breathing difficulties. His frail health has led to numerous hospital admissions in recent years.

Despite his health challenges, King Harald has made it clear that he has no plans to abdicate, unlike his second cousin Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, who stepped down earlier this year. Crown Prince Haakon has stepped in and taken over his father's duties during his hospitalizations.

As the British royal family has recently faced health concerns with Prince Philip's hospitalization, the attention now turns to King Harald's recovery and his safe return to Norway. The Norwegian population eagerly awaits updates on the monarch's health and sends their well-wishes for his speedy recuperation.