Crown Princess of Norway Undergoes Successful Lung Transplant Surgery

Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit has successfully undergone a lung transplant after battling a rare form of pulmonary fibrosis, a condition that causes severe breathing difficulties, the royal palace announced on Wednesday.

In a statement released by the palace, lung specialist Are Holm of Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet said the procedure had gone well and that the Crown Princess was recovering as expected.

“We are pleased that the operation has been successful and that her recovery is progressing well. As is standard for transplant patients, Her Royal Highness will remain under medical supervision at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet for several weeks,” Holm said.

The 52-year-old royal was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018. The disease causes progressive scarring of the lungs, making it increasingly difficult to breathe.

Her health had worsened significantly over the past six months, prompting doctors to place her on the lung transplant waiting list on June 5. Medical experts noted that a transplant is typically considered a final treatment option for patients whose life expectancy without new lungs is estimated at less than two years.

Following the surgery, Crown Prince Haakon, heir to the Norwegian throne, is expected to reduce his official engagements to spend more time supporting his wife during her recovery, according to the palace.

The announcement came amid a difficult period for the royal family. Just two days earlier, an Oslo court sentenced Marius Borg Høiby, Mette-Marit’s 29-year-old son from a previous relationship, to four years in prison after convicting him of two counts of rape and 32 additional offences. Høiby has denied the most serious allegations, and his legal team has indicated plans to appeal the ruling.

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