The Norwegian Royal Household has announced a significant deterioration in Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s health, indicating that a lung transplant will likely become necessary for the 52-year-old royal. The princess, diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, faces a degenerative condition that creates scar tissue within the lungs, progressively stiffening them and impairing both breathing capacity and oxygen absorption into the bloodstream.
Recent medical evaluations conducted during autumn revealed what palace officials described as “a clear worsening” of her condition. Dr. Are Martin Holm, head of respiratory medicine at Oslo University Hospital, confirmed that medical teams are approaching the threshold where transplantation becomes imperative. While no formal decision has been made regarding her placement on the transplant waiting list, physicians have initiated the comprehensive evaluation process required for such procedures.
The Crown Princess acknowledged the accelerated progression of her illness in an interview with Norwegian public broadcaster NRK, stating it has developed “faster than I’d hoped.” Her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, Norway’s future monarch, provided poignant context during the joint interview, explaining that while his wife might appear “perfectly fine” when stationary, her breathing difficulties become apparent during physical exertion.
Medical protocols in Norway ensure no preferential treatment for royal patients, with typically 20-40 patients awaiting lung transplants at any given time. Dr. Holm emphasized that transplantation represents a last-resort intervention, reserved for cases where patients face significant illness and limited life expectancy. The procedure carries substantial risks, including organ rejection and the challenge of finding suitable donor matches.
Despite her health challenges, the palace confirmed Princess Mette-Marit’s “strong interest in continuing to carry out her duties,” though her official engagements will be adapted to accommodate her medical needs. The royal couple has already abandoned cherished activities like hiking and skiing together due to her respiratory limitations.
This health update emerges months after separate legal proceedings involving the princess’s eldest son, Marius Borg Høiby, who faces multiple criminal charges including rape allegations—a matter unrelated to the princess’s medical condition but adding to the royal family’s complex public circumstances.