Princess Mette-Marit’s Chronic Lung Condition Worsens

The chronic lung condition of Princess Mette-Marit, the wife of Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, has worsened, potentially forcing her to limit her official duties, as announced today (06.03.2025) by the Royal Court in Oslo. The 51-year-old princess revealed in October 2018 that she had been diagnosed with a rare form of pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable disease causing scarring in the lungs and difficulty breathing. This illness has already led her to lighten her schedule or cancel repeated obligations. “The Crown Princess suffers daily from symptoms and disturbances that hinder her from fulfilling her duties,” stated the Royal Court in a health update. “The Crown Princess needs more rest, and her condition is progressing faster than before. This means there may be more frequent changes to her official schedule with shorter notice compared to before,” they clarified. In September 2023 and October 2024, Princess Mette-Marit took recuperative leave for several weeks, canceling public engagements. During an interview published in August 2023 with the Norwegian newspaper DN on her 50th birthday, she remarked, “When you turn 50, you realize life isn’t eternal.” Princess Mette-Marit has dominated Norwegian headlines recently due to her 28-year-old son Marius, whose past relationships have sparked controversy, most recently when he admitted in August 2024 to being under the influence of alcohol and cocaine.