Norway's Crown Princess Faces Lung Transplant

Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 52, is now on a waiting list for a lung transplant due to her battle with pulmonary fibrosis, a rare lung disease diagnosed in 2018. Specialists at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet have reported a significant increase in lung scarring and a considerable decline in her lung function over the last six months, particularly in the past three months alone.

To be eligible for the transplant list, patients must be critically ill, estimated to have about a year to live without the procedure, yet still be healthy enough to undergo the major surgery. The success of a transplant depends on finding a compatible donor and the patient being the sickest individual on the list, with no guarantee of immediate priority. The palace has stated that the Crown Princess's current health condition means she cannot fulfill her official duties and will also impact the schedules of the Crown Prince and other family members. The couple's planned silver wedding anniversary celebration in August 2026 has been postponed, and they will miss the Swedish royal couple's golden wedding anniversary on June 13. Their daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, has interrupted her studies in Australia to be with her mother. The Crown Princess has recently been seen using a breathing tube connected to an oxygen device.