Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit placed on lung‑transplant waiting list

Princess Mette-Marit, heir to the Norwegian throne, has been placed on the waiting list for a lung transplant after her chronic pulmonary fibrosis sharply worsened. Diagnosed in 2018, the 52‑year‑old’s lung function has declined markedly over the past three months, prompting doctors at Oslo’s Rikshospitalet to list her as a candidate for transplantation, a procedure reserved for patients with less than a year to live without it.

The princess’s condition has forced the postponement of her official engagements, including the couple’s silver‑anniversary celebrations and attendance at the Swedish royal wedding. Prince Haakon cut short a state visit to Japan to be with her, and their daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, returned from studies in Sydney to stay in Oslo for the autumn. While awaiting a compatible donor, Mette‑Marit continues to use respiratory assistance equipment in public appearances. The royal family’s communications note the seriousness of the situation but do not guarantee a transplant timeline.