Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway is confronting a critical phase in her prolonged struggle with pulmonary fibrosis, having been added to a lung transplant waiting list. This development raises significant concerns about the health of the future queen and marks a challenging period for the Norwegian royal family.
RadarOnline.com reports that Mette-Marit, diagnosed with this incurable lung disease in 2018, has seen a substantial decline in her condition in recent months, according to medical experts and Norway’s Royal Court.
This illness leads to the gradual scarring of lung tissue, which progressively hampers breathing.
The royal household of Norway has recently disclosed that the Crown Princess has halted her official duties, and any further medical updates will be withheld until after a transplant procedure is conducted.
This situation unfolds as the monarchy grapples with a series of personal and public difficulties, including the legal issues involving Mette-Marit’s eldest son, Marius Borg Høiby, and the renewed focus on the Crown Princess’s past interactions with Jeffrey Epstein prior to his death in 2019.
Sources close to the royal family have indicated that the escalating health crisis is placing considerable emotional strain on them.
One source noted, “There is a growing sense of concern because this is no longer being viewed as a condition that can simply be managed through adjustments to her schedule. The situation has become far more serious.”
Another insider shared: “The Crown Princess has remained determined to continue public engagements whenever possible, but those around her understand that her health must now take priority over everything else.
“This has been an exceptionally difficult period for the family. Between ongoing personal challenges and the uncertainty surrounding Mette-Marit’s condition, there is a recognition that the coming months could be critical, and it feels as if the monarchy is now being shaken to its very core.”
Medical experts have also voiced concerns about the progression of the Crown Princess’s disease.
Are Holm, a lung specialist at Oslo University Hospital, stated: “The Crown Princess has had a significant worsening of her pulmonary fibrosis over the past six months.
“We see in the pictures that much more scar tissue has developed over the past year.”
Holm further explained that patients on transplant waiting lists are generally considered to be seriously ill, and it is uncertain when a suitable donor organ might become available.
Concerns over the Crown Princess’s health became more apparent during Norway’s Constitution Day celebrations on May 17, when she was seen using a nasal cannula to aid her breathing while attending public events.
Her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, 52, recently acknowledged the deterioration in her condition.
He commented: “The Crown Princess is seriously ill, and I think she has gotten a bit worse lately. So I am worried about her health. And these six months have gone pretty well, I think. But there are different phases. So we just have to try to solve it as best we can.”
When asked about the possibility of Mette-Marit being placed on a transplant waiting list, Haakon said, “It’s up to the doctors, it’s a medical question.
“So they’re the ones who decide when it should happen, when it’s right. But I think she’s gotten a lot worse lately, unfortunately.”
This health crisis comes amid ongoing scrutiny surrounding Høiby, who faces multiple criminal charges, including allegations of rape and sexual assault.
Høiby, 29, denies any wrongdoing, with a verdict expected later this month.
Further pressure stems from renewed attention on Mette-Marit’s past communication with Epstein.
Earlier this year, the Crown Princess issued a public apology for maintaining contact with the convicted sex offender, describing her actions as “embarrassing” and admitting they showed poor judgment.
Last month, Mette-Marit made a public appearance with Haakon and Prince Sverre Magnus at their Skaugum residence near Oslo, smiling and waving to crowds despite the mounting challenges facing Norway’s future king and queen.
