Oslo - Norwegian King Harald and Queen Sonja are not expected to meet with the increasingly frail former South African president Nelson Mandela during a state visit to South Africa later this month, reports said Thursday.

The royals had hoped to pay a courtesy call on Mandela, 91, during their November 24-27 visit, the Oslo daily Aftenposten said.

The Norwegian embassy was however informed it was "not possible" when it approached the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Marie Borgyad of the Norwegian foreign ministry told the newspaper.

Mandela has been described as increasingly frail. The foundation recently issued a statement saying he was "as well as anyone can expect of someome who is 91 years old" and was cutting back on his engagements "even further" to "spend more time with his family."

He stepped down as president in 1999 and since been engaged in charities on behalf of children, HIV/AIDS and education. (dpa)