Queen Mette-Marit of Norway will not be carrying out any royal duties until next summer, the royal house has announced. The wife of King Haakon underwent a lung transplant in July and has been recovering ever since.
Recovery after transplant
After being discharged from the hospital, the new Queen of Norway, following King Harald’s death, said: “I am deeply grateful. First and foremost, I would like to thank everyone who chooses to donate organs.”
“Through organ donation, I have been given the gift of life. Words fail me as I try to express how profoundly grateful and humbled I am.” Mette-Marit was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018.
Public appearances and royal schedule
Following her father-in-law’s death in August, the Norwegian queen made a number of public appearances. But now, according to the royal programme, she won’t be undertaking any engagements in the foreseeable future.
A statement issued regarding the royal schedule read: “In addition to the constitutional tasks and regular program items, His Majesty the King will conduct thematic visits within important societal areas such as democracy, nature and environment, business, defence, and inclusion in the coming period.
“The King will also invite groups from different strata of society to meetings throughout the autumn and winter. There will be no major official trips or state visits during the autumn and winter.
“Work on changes resulting from the abdication will mean that some time will be spent on internal processes in the time ahead.
“Her Majesty the Queen is still in rehabilitation after her lung transplant and will initially have no official program until next summer.”
Other royal duties
The statement added: “Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra will continue to prioritise her studies, and will participate in some official occasions until she returns to Australia to start her studies in February.
“Queen Sonja will continue to carry out official assignments where she represents the Royal House.”
Before her operation, in May, the royal was seen wearing an oxygen cannula to help with her breathing as her health kept deteriorating.
