Queen Mette-Marit cancels parliamentary debut due to respiratory infection

Queen Mette-Marit of Norway has canceled her scheduled debut as queen at the opening of the Storting, the Norwegian Parliament, due to a sudden respiratory infection. The event was particularly significant as it marked the first parliamentary opening since the start of King Haakon VIII’s reign.

In her absence, King Haakon VIII was accompanied by the Crown Princess, Ingrid Alexandra. The Royal Palace of Oslo confirmed that the infection is a delicate matter given the Queen's medical history; she underwent a lung transplant in June 2026 to treat chronic pulmonary fibrosis.

Dr. Are Holm, head of pulmonology at Rikshospitalet, stated that medical professionals are satisfied with her overall progress, noting that she remains in a rehabilitation period expected to last approximately one year following her surgery.