Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit is expected to undergo a lung transplant after recent months showed a significant decline in her health, the royal household confirmed in a statement on Friday.
The 52-year-old princess, wife of Crown Prince Haakon, was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, a chronic condition that scars the lungs and reduces oxygen absorption, affecting normal breathing and daily activities.
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Palace officials said recent tests revealed rapid progression of her illness, which had previously advanced slowly with medication. Mette-Marit told public broadcaster NRK that the disease is now developing faster than expected.
It has not yet been decided when she will be added to the transplant waiting list, but medical teams are preparing for the procedure to take place as soon as possible.
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Crown Prince Haakon said the family noticed Mette-Marit’s increasing difficulty in breathing, while Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere praised her openness, stating it could raise awareness and help others facing similar conditions.
Mette-Marit’s journey to royalty began in 1999 when she, a 25-year-old single mother and commoner, met Crown Prince Haakon at a music festival, starting a romance that eventually won over the nation.