Princess Mette-Marit of Norway Placed on Lung Transplant Waiting List as Health Declines

The health condition of Princess Mette-Marit continues to worsen, as confirmed by the Norwegian royal house on Friday. The wife of Prince Haakon has been placed on the waiting list for a lung transplant following a worsening of her pulmonary fibrosis, a condition she has battled since 2018, which has now reached potentially fatal levels. The Norwegian royal family has acknowledged the severity of the princess’s pulmonary disease. According to a statement reported by local channel NRK, after a comprehensive medical evaluation, Princess Mette-Marit has been added to the lung transplant waiting list in hopes of receiving the procedure as soon as possible. The statement includes insights from Are Holm, the consulting pulmonologist at Rikshospitalet and the princess's doctor in recent years. Due to the progression of her illness, the princess will refrain from participating in any official engagements. Moreover, a planned celebration of her silver wedding anniversary with Prince Haakon, which was set for this August, has been postponed, alongside a scheduled trip for September. In light of these developments, Prince Haakon has made adjustments to his travel plans both domestically and internationally in order to spend more time with his wife. Their eldest daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, who has been studying at the University of Sydney this year, has returned to Oslo to continue her studies through an exchange program, allowing her to be closer to her family during this challenging period. Last December, the Norwegian royal family had publicly confirmed for the first time that Princess Mette-Marit would require a lung transplant due to her ongoing health issues. At that time, they clarified that she was not yet on the waiting list and that her medical situation would be continuously assessed. In recent months, the princess's health has significantly declined, necessitating the use of supplemental oxygen to ease her breathing in both private and public settings, such as during Norway's National Day celebrations on May 17, when she greeted the public from the royal palace. This past Thursday, Princess Mette-Marit and Prince Haakon were photographed arriving at a hospital in Oslo, where they spent several hours, intensifying concerns regarding the future queen’s health. The confirmation that Princess Mette-Marit will undergo a lung transplant as soon as feasible raises both hope and concern among the public and royal family supporters, as they navigate this difficult journey together. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2