Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit has been added to the waiting list for a lung transplant, as her health has worsened, according to an announcement from the royal household on Friday.
The 52-year-old princess, married to Crown Prince Haakon—the future king of Norway—was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018. This chronic illness results in scarring of the lung tissue, ultimately impairing oxygen absorption.
The palace stated, “Due to her life-threatening chronic lung condition and following comprehensive health evaluations, her royal highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit has been placed on the lung transplant list.”
In December, Oslo University Hospital indicated that the time for a transplant was nearing, though the crown princess had not yet been officially listed among potential transplant recipients in Norway.
Earlier this week, Crown Prince Haakon revealed that Mette-Marit’s condition had taken a turn for the worse, with her experiencing increased difficulty in breathing.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere has commended the crown princess for her transparency regarding her health struggle, noting that her openness could offer support and encouragement to others facing similar health challenges.
Mette-Marit was 25, an unmarried single mother and a commoner when she met Haakon at a music festival in 1999, the beginning of an unlikely royal romance that started with a media furore and ended up winning over the bulk of the nation.
