Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway attended the country's Constitution Day children's parade on Sunday using an oxygen tank, as she continues her years-long battle with pulmonary fibrosis. The 52-year-old future queen, who first disclosed her condition in 2018, was seen wearing a nasal cannula to aid her breathing during the public event, marking one of the first times she has used such equipment at an official engagement.
Royal Family's Public Appearance
Accompanied by her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, also 52, and their son, Prince Sverre Magnus, 20, the family watched the parade from their residence at Skaugum in Oslo. The trio appeared cheerful, waving to cameras with broad smiles, despite facing one of the most challenging periods for the Norwegian monarchy in recent history.
Legal Troubles and Personal Scandals
The royal family has been under intense scrutiny following charges against Mette-Marit's son, Marius Borg Høiby, who was charged with rape and sexual assault in June last year. Høiby, the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, faces multiple charges including one count of rape involving intercourse, two counts of rape without intercourse, four counts of sexual assault, and two counts of bodily harm. The Norwegian court is expected to deliver a verdict in his trial on June 15.
Further complicating matters, revelations emerged earlier this year about Mette-Marit's close relationship with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Emails released as part of the Epstein Files showed that the princess referred to Epstein as 'sweetheart' and maintained contact with him even after his conviction for procuring an underage girl for prostitution. In one email, mutual friend Boris Nikolić asked Epstein if the pair were planning to have a child together, to which Epstein replied, 'Mette Marit is a mess.'
The princess has described the emails as 'embarrassing' and indicative of 'poor judgement.' Her name appeared at least 1,000 times in documents released by the US Department of Justice in February. Despite the controversy, there is no suggestion that she stayed at any of Epstein's properties.
Health Battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis
Mette-Marit first announced her diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, a condition that causes scarring of the lungs and makes breathing increasingly difficult. In a statement at the time, she said, 'The condition means that my working capacity will vary. The Crown Prince and I are choosing to make this public now partly because in future there will be a need to plan periods of time without an official programme to accommodate treatment and when the disease is more active.'
Pulmonary fibrosis is incurable and typically worsens over time. However, her doctor, Professor Kristian Bjøro at the National Hospital, noted that the disease progression has been slow. The Royal House stated that the unusual variant detected in Mette-Marit's lung is not linked to environmental or lifestyle factors. Early detection has improved her prognosis, and she remains committed to her royal duties as much as possible.
Symptoms of Pulmonary Fibrosis
According to the NHS, symptoms include shortness of breath, a persistent dry cough, tiredness, loss of appetite and weight loss, and swollen fingertips. While treatments can help slow the progression, there is currently no cure.
