Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit Undergoes Lung Transplant

Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit has undergone a lung transplant, the Norwegian royal palace announced on Wednesday.

The announcement offered a positive update on the health of the 52-year-old royal who has been battling a rare form of pulmonary fibrosis.

In a statement released by the palace, lung specialist Are Holm of Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet said the procedure had gone well and that the Crown Princess would remain under close medical observation as part of her recovery.

“We are delighted that everything has progressed well so far. In accordance with standard practice for all recent transplant recipients, Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess will remain admitted to Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet for several weeks to come,” Holm said.

Mette-Marit was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, a chronic condition that causes progressive scarring of the lungs and makes breathing increasingly difficult.

Her health reportedly deteriorated significantly over the past six months, prompting doctors to place her on the waiting list for a lung transplant on June 5. Medical experts had described the surgery as a last-resort treatment option for patients expected to have less than two years to live without new lungs.

Following the operation, Crown Prince Haakon, heir to the Norwegian throne, is expected to reduce his official engagements to spend time with his wife during her recovery, according to the palace.

The announcement comes amid a challenging period for the royal family. Just two days earlier, an Oslo court sentenced Mette-Marit’s 29-year-old son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby, to four years in prison after convicting him on two counts of rape and 32 other offences.

Hoiby has denied the most serious allegations, while his legal team has indicated that the verdict will be appealed.

AFP