The ‘heartbreaking health crisis’ rocking the Norwegian royal family
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway faces the most serious chapter yet in her long battle with pulmonary fibrosis after being placed on a waiting list for a lung transplant, heightening concerns about the future queen’s health and what many see as an extremely difficult period for Norway’s royal family.
RadarOnline.com can reveal Mette-Marit was diagnosed with the incurable lung disease in 2018 and has significantly worsened in recent months, according to medical specialists and the Norwegian Royal Court.
The condition causes progressive scarring of the lung tissue, making breathing increasingly difficult over time.
The Norwegian Royal Household recently announced that the Crown Princess has suspended her official duties and that no further medical updates will be issued until a transplant procedure has taken place.
The development comes as the country’s monarchy continues to grapple with a series of personal and public challenges, including the criminal case involving Mette-Marit’s eldest son, Marius Borg Høiby, and renewed investigation into the Crown Princess’s previous contact with Jeffrey Epstein before the pedophile’s death in 2019.
Sources close to the Norwegian royal family said the worsening health crisis has put enormous emotional strain on the family.
One source told us: “There is a growing sense of concern as this is no longer seen as a condition that can be managed simply through adjustments to her schedule. The situation has become much more serious.”
Another insider said: “The Crown Princess has remained committed to continuing public engagement where possible, but those around her understand that her health must now take priority over everything else.
“This has been an exceptionally difficult period for the family. Between the ongoing personal challenges and the uncertainty surrounding Mette-Marit’s condition, there is a recognition that the coming months could be crucial, and it feels as if the monarchy is now being shaken to its core.”
Medical experts have also expressed concern about the progression of the Crown Princess’ illness.
Are Holm, a lung specialist at Oslo University Hospital, said: “The Crown Princess has experienced a significant worsening of her lung fibrosis over the past six months.
“We see in the photos that much more scar tissue has developed over the past year.”
Holm also explained that patients on transplant waiting lists are generally considered seriously ill and said it was impossible to predict when a suitable donor organ would become available.
Concerns about the Crown Princess’ health became more apparent during the Norwegian Constitution celebration on May 17, when she was photographed wearing a nasal cannula to aid her breathing while attending public events.
Her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, 52, recently acknowledged the deterioration of her condition.
He said: “The Crown Princess is seriously ill and I think she has taken a bit of a turn for the worse recently. So I’m worried about her health. And these six months have gone quite well, I think. But there are different phases. So we just have to try to resolve it as best we can.”
When asked if Mette-Marit could be placed on a transplant waiting list, Haakon added: “It’s up to the doctors, it’s a medical question.
“So they’re the ones who decide when it should be done, when it’s right. But I think things have gotten a lot worse for her lately, unfortunately.”
The health crisis comes amid ongoing criticism of Høiby, who is facing multiple criminal charges, including allegations of rape and sexual assault.
Høiby, 29, denies wrongdoing and a verdict is expected later this month.
Additional pressure has arisen from renewed attention to Mette-Marit’s previous correspondence with Epstein.
Earlier this year, the Crown Princess publicly apologized for maintaining contact with the convicted sex offender, describing her actions as “shameful” and acknowledging that they reflected poor judgment.
Last month, Mette-Marit appeared publicly alongside Haakon and Prince Sverre Magnus at their residence in Skaugum, near Oslo, smiling and waving to the crowd despite the mounting challenges facing Norway’s future king and queen.
