Queen Sonja of Norway, 87, Hospitalized Following Ski Incident

Mar. 15, 2025

Queen Sonja of Norway.Photo:Daniele Venturelli/WireImage

Daniele Venturelli/WireImage

Queen Sonja of Norwaywas 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 Heraldreported. The palacelater announcedthat 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.

While the exact cause of the condition is unclear, atrial fibrillation most often occurs in older individuals or those with existing chronic conditions.

Queen Sonja and King Harald V.Royal Court via Getty

Royal Court via Getty

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.

The Norwegian royal family.STIAN LYSBERG SOLUM/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

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.

source: people.com