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

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, 52, is suffering from progressive pulmonary fibrosis. As her condition worsens, the Royal Court announced on Friday that she has been added to Norway’s lung‑transplant waiting list.

Doctors emphasised that the princess receives no special priority. "Wir geben immer dem Vorrang, der am schwersten erkrankt ist, dem, der keine Zeit zum Warten hat," said senior physician Are Martin Holm, adding that organ allocation follows strict protocols based on severity, size and blood type. Currently eight patients are on Norway’s waiting list for a donor lung, and the Oslo University Hospital coordinates with other Nordic countries through Scandiatransplant. Physicians estimate that without a transplant Mette‑Marit may have about a year left.

The announcement has drawn public attention to the rare disease and the broader challenges of organ scarcity.