---
title: "Norway's Queen Sonja, 87, hospitalised for shortness of breath"
description: "April 21 (Reuters) - Norway's Queen Sonja, 87, was admitted to the National Hospital on Monday evening for examinations due to shortness of breath, the Norwegian royal court said."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-04-22-norways-queen-sonja-87-hospitalised-for-shortness-of-breath/"
published: "2025-04-22T04:39:50"
updated: "2025-04-22T04:39:51"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 55
---

# Norway's Queen Sonja, 87, hospitalised for shortness of breath

> April 21 (Reuters) - Norway's Queen Sonja, 87, was admitted to the National Hospital on Monday evening for examinations due to shortness of breath, the Norwegian royal court said.

By Reuters · Published 22 April 2025, 06:39 SAST · Updated 22 April 2025, 06:39 SAST

## Key points
- In a royal plot twist worthy of a Scandinavian drama, Norway's First Lady Sonja was airlifted from her Easter retreat to get a pacemaker, proving that even royalty can't escape the occasional cardiac hiccup.
- Sonja, wife of Norway's King Harald, underwent pacemaker surgery in January due to heart issues.
- The royal couple was on holiday in Sikkilsdalen when the health crisis occurred.
- Sonja was airlifted from their cabin for medical treatment, as confirmed by the palace.
- The incident highlights ongoing health concerns for the Norwegian royal family.

## Content

Sonja, the wife of Norway's head of state King Harald, [received a pacemaker](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL1N3OA09G&linkedFromStory=true) in January after suffering a heart problem.

She was airlifted from the royal cabin in Sikkilsdalen in central Norway, where the couple spent the Easter holiday, the palace said in a statement.

(Reporting by Mrinmay Dey in Bengaluru; Editing by Jamie Freed)