Oslo, Norway. Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit has undergone a successful lung transplant and is recovering, the royal household said on Wednesday. The palace said she remains in hospital following the procedure.
Hospital recovery
Oslo University Hospital said Mette-Marit will remain at the hospital for several weeks, as is standard for newly transplanted patients. The statement was provided by the palace and attributed to Professor Are Holm.
Long-term illness
The 52-year-old wife of Crown Prince Haakon, heir to the Norwegian throne, was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018. The chronic disease causes scarring in the lungs and reduces oxygen uptake.
Placed on transplant waiting list
On June 5, Oslo University Hospital said Mette-Marit had been placed on a waiting list for a lung transplant after a significant deterioration in her health. The hospital said she likely had only a year left to live without the surgery.
Family and public response
In December, Crown Prince Haakon said the family had noticed a change in Mette-Marit’s condition and that she was struggling more to breathe. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere praised the crown princess for being open about her condition and said this could help others with similar health problems.
Background
Mette-Marit was 25, an unmarried single mother and a commoner when she met Haakon at a music festival in 1999. Their relationship began amid intense media attention and later gained broad public support in Norway.
