Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit has been placed on a waiting list for a lung transplant following a further deterioration of her health, the royal household announced on Friday. The 52-year-old wife of Crown Prince Haakon, heir to the Norwegian throne, was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, a chronic lung disease that causes scarring and reduces oxygen uptake.
The palace stated that after thorough health examinations, the crown princess has been added to the lung transplant list due to her life-threatening condition. Oslo University Hospital had indicated in December that a transplant was approaching but that she had not yet been listed.
Crown Prince Haakon cut short an official visit to Japan this week to return home, while the couple's daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, flew back from Australia, where she is a student. The prince said his daughter wanted to be with her mother and plans to complete her studies in Australia, though her stay duration is uncertain.
Professor Are Holm of Oslo University Hospital confirmed that the disease has progressed seriously and that the transplant will occur as soon as possible. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere praised the crown princess for her openness about her condition, noting it could help others with similar issues.
The crown prince and princess have postponed their 25th wedding anniversary celebrations, originally planned for August. Mette-Marit, a former commoner and single mother, met Haakon at a music festival in 1999, sparking a royal romance that initially faced media scrutiny but eventually won public support.
