Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, aged 52, has been placed on a waiting list for a lung transplant due to a life-threatening chronic lung disease, according to an announcement from the Norwegian royal household. The princess, diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, will be unable to fulfill her royal duties while awaiting a suitable donor.

Impact on Royal Duties

The palace’s statement highlighted the severity of the princess’s condition, with Are Holm, a consultant lung specialist at Oslo’s Rikshospitalet, confirming the need for a transplant following a comprehensive medical assessment. As a result, Crown Princess Mette-Marit will not participate in official engagements, and her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, has adjusted his schedule to spend more time with her.

The couple’s silver wedding anniversary celebrations, initially planned for August, are postponed, and the princess will not partake in a planned tour of Norway in September. Their daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, has returned from Australia to support her mother, while their son, Prince Sverre Magnus, is set to begin his studies in Europe but will return home as needed.

Family and Public Life

Mette-Marit became crown princess in 2001 after marrying Crown Prince Haakon, whom she met at a music festival in 1999. Her personal life has been under public scrutiny recently, with her older son, Marius Borg Høiby, facing a rape trial, and revelations of her past association with Jeffrey Epstein.

The royal family’s challenges have been widely covered in the media, reflecting both the personal and public aspects of their lives. As the crown princess awaits a transplant, the focus remains on her health and the support of her family during this difficult time.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.