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| - King Harald V of Norway is doing well after a "successful" heart operation, the palace said Friday, following weeks of respiratory problems unrelated to the coronavirus. In a statement, the palace said the 83-year-old monarch was operated on Friday at Oslo's National Hospital to replace an artificial valve he received during open-heart surgery in 2005. "The operation was successful and the King is in good condition." He was given a local anaesthetic, and remained awake throughout the procedure, the palace said. Harald, a former Olympic yachtsman who has held the throne for 29 years, has refused to abdicate despite several years of ill-health, including an operation for bladder cancer in 2003. He was also admitted to hospital for three days last month due to respiratory problems. The monarch plays a largely symbolic role in Norwegian society, and Harald's son, 47-year-old prince Haakon, has taken over his functions during the recent period of illness. phy/map/mbx/dl
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