Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit skips Utøya memorial after lung transplant

Crown Princess Mette‑Marit of Norway was unable to attend the 15th‑anniversary remembrance of the 2011 Utøya massacre because she is still recovering from a lung transplant. The transplant was performed after she was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, a condition that led to a life‑saving operation in 2023. Her recovery requires her to limit public engagements, and she missed the ceremony at Oslo Cathedral where King Harald and Queen Sonja paid tribute to the victims.

The memorial also marked the loss of her step‑brother, police officer Trond Berntsen, who was among the first to die trying to stop the attacker Anders Breivik on Utøya. Mette‑Marit's health issues have previously forced the cancellation of official trips, including a planned visit to northern Norway near the Russian border.

The Crown Princess continues her rehabilitation and has not yet resumed regular public duties.