Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit Assessed for Lung Transplant as Health Worsens

Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit is being evaluated for a possible lung transplant following a noticeable deterioration in her health, the Royal House of Norway announced on December 19.

The 52-year-old princess, who is married to Crown Prince Haakon, has been living with chronic pulmonary fibrosis since 2018. 

The condition causes scarring of the lung tissue, making it increasingly difficult for the lungs to function and deliver oxygen to the bloodstream.

In an official statement, the Royal House said that recent medical tests conducted during the autumn showed a “clear worsening” of the Crown Princess’s condition. 

As a result, doctors at Rikshospitalet University Hospital in Oslo have begun the process of assessing her for a potential lung transplant.

Professor Are Martin Holm, head of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at the hospital, said the situation is approaching a critical stage. 

“We are reaching the point where a lung transplant will be necessary, and we are undertaking the necessary preparations to ensure that this will be possible when the time comes,” he explained. 

However, he added that no decision has yet been made regarding when Mette-Marit would be placed on a transplant waiting list.

The palace noted that the Crown Princess now requires more structured physical training, rest, and recovery. 

Despite this, she has expressed a strong desire to continue carrying out her royal duties. Her official schedule will be adjusted to accommodate her health needs as much as possible.

Mette-Marit previously reduced her workload in October to undergo pulmonary rehabilitation. 

Earlier this year, the Royal House confirmed that her condition had progressed and could affect her future engagements, though she remained determined to stay active in public life.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive disease with no cure, and lung damage caused by the condition is irreversible. 

Treatment options include medication, therapy, and, in advanced cases, lung transplantation.

Just one day before the palace announcement, Crown Princess Mette-Marit appeared in public, visiting a nursing home in Oslo with Crown Prince Haakon and their children to spread Christmas cheer.