Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
Her health has been deteriorating fast the past months.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway is facing a critical health battle.
Following extensive medical evaluations, the royal family confirmed that she has been placed on the official waiting list for a lung transplant, the Norwegian Royal House said in a press release.
The news marks a severe escalation in her chronic lung condition. For years, doctors have monitored her health, but recent assessments forced an immediate change in strategy.
“The development of the Crown Princess’s lung disease is serious. After an overall medical assessment, she has now been placed on the list of people who will undergo a lung transplant as soon as possible,” said chief physician and lung specialist Are Holm at Rikshospitalet in the statement.
This urgent medical status means her royal duties are completely on hold. While waiting for a suitable donor, she will not work or maintain her normal official schedule.
Suffers from lung fibrosis
Mette-Marit suffers from a condition called pulmonary fibrosis.
The degenerative disease creates scar tissue on the lungs, stiffening them and making them less effective.
This means that it becomes progressively harder to breathe and for oxygen to be transported into the bloodstream.
There is no known cure for the disease.
In December 2025, Mette-Marit told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that her condition had developed “faster than I’d hoped”.
Family comes first
The health crisis has upended the royal schedule, forcing the family to rewrite their summer and autumn plans. Crown Prince Haakon has already adjusted his own engagements to remain by his wife’s side.
To prepare for the operation, he will restrict long-distance travel. As a result, the Crown Prince will skip the golden wedding anniversary of the Swedish royal couple in Stockholm on June 13.
Even personal milestones are being put aside. The royal couple has postponed their silver wedding anniversary celebrations, which were originally set for this August.
