- - Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway Assessed for Lung Transplant amid 'Clear Worsening' of Health

Janine HenniDecember 20, 2025 at 12:52 AM

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Crown Princess Mette-Marit visits Langerudhjemmet nursing home on Dec. 17, 2025 in Oslo, Norway -

The Royal House of Norway announced on Dec. 19 that Crown Princess Mette-Marit is being assessed for a lung transplant

Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 52, has chronic pulmonary fibrosis, or lung scarring

Crown Prince Haakon's wife reduced her royal duties in October to undergo pulmonary rehabilitation

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway is expected to undergo a lung transplant amid a deterioration of her health, the palace announced.

On Dec. 19, the Royal House of Norway shared the health news about the wife of Crown Prince Haakon, who is the current heir to the Norwegian throne. Mette-Marit, 52, has chronic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease that occurs when lung tissue becomes scarred, making it more difficult for the lungs to work properly.

"Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018. This disease involves a buildup of scar tissue to the lungs, which makes it more difficult for the lungs to carry oxygen into the bloodstream. During the autumn, a number of tests have been carried out that show a clear worsening of the Crown Princess’ health," the statement said.

"The physicians at Rikshospitalet University Hospital have therefore started the process towards an evaluation for potential lung transplant surgery," it continued.

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Crown Princess Mette-Marit visits Langerudhjemmet nursing home on Dec. 17, 2025 in Oslo, Norway.

Are Martin Holm, Professor and Head of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Rikshospitalet University Hospital, added that a lung transplant is likely.

"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," said Dr. Holm, a specialist in internal medicine and pulmonary diseases.

"At present, no decision has been taken as to when the Crown Princess will be placed on the lung transplant waiting list," he continued.

According to the Royal House, Crown Princess Mette-Marit "has an increasing need for a targeted exercise regimen, rest and physical restitution. Nevertheless, she has expressed a strong interest in continuing to carry out her duties."

"The Crown Princess’ official program will be organized to adapt her activities to her health situation to the greatest extent possible," the statement concluded.

Det Norske Kongehuset/Instagram

Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Prince Sverre Magnus and Princess Ingrid Alexandra visit Langerudhjemmet nursing home on Dec. 17, 2025 in Oslo, Norway.

In October 2018, the Royal House announced that she was diagnosed with chronic pulmonary fibrosis. The Mayo Clinic says the condition can worsen over time, and it can be difficult for doctors to pinpoint the cause of the problem. The lung damage caused by pulmonary fibrosis is irreparable, and medicine, therapy and lung transplants are options for treatment.

In March of this year, the palace announced that Mette-Marit's pulmonary fibrosis had "progressed" and might affect her future schedule, but they emphasized that she was determined to continue working.

In October, she took the month off from royal duty to undergo pulmonary rehabilitation, scaling back her schedule to focus on her health.

Speaking to the press in September, Crown Princess Mette-Marit said, "I should have done it a long time ago, but now is the time. So I'm going to do it. Because I need a little more help than before to cope with daily life with pulmonary fibrosis," Hola! magazine reported, per a translation.

Rune Hellestad/Getty

King Harald, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette- Marit and Princess Ingrid Alexandra attend the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony at Oslo City Hall on Dec. 10, 2025.

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Crown Princess Mette-Marit stepped out for royal duty the day before the palace announcement about her anticipated lung transplant, visiting a nursing home in Oslo with her husband and their children.

On Dec. 18, Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon, 52, visited the Langerudhjemmet nursing home and care center with their daughter Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 21, and son Prince Sverre Magnus, 20, bringing Christmas cheer before the holiday.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit is also a mom to an older son, Marius Borg Høiby, 28, whom she welcomed during a relationship that predated her marriage to Haakon in 2001.

In February 2026, Marius will head to trial as he faces allegations of raping four women, AFP previously reported. He faces 32 charges, including rape, domestic violence and assault, a year after his initial arrest in 2024. He disputes the most serious charges, per his attorney.

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