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Crown Princess Mette-Marit has a “long road to recovery” following her transplant last month
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- Crown Prince Haakon of Norway stepped out this week and gave an update on his wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, after her lung transplant
- "It’s only the beginning of a long road to recovery," he told reporters
- The mother of three was diagnosed with chronic pulmonary fibrosis in 2018
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway has a “long road to recovery” following her lung transplant last month.
Mette-Marit’s husband, Crown Prince Haakon, shared the update this week from the town of Krokstadelva, where he met with residents and rescue workers battling the massive Drammen wildfire.
Asked about his wife’s health, Crown Prince Haakon, 53, told reporters, “Fortunately, things are improving, thank you. But it’s only the beginning of a long road to recovery.”
On June 17, the Royal House of Norway announced that the Crown Princess, 52, had undergone a lung transplant. The surgery came just two weeks after it was announced that Mette-Marit was being placed on a lung transplant waiting list and canceling future outings due to the downturn in her health.
The mother of three was diagnosed with chronic pulmonary fibrosis in 2018. Earlier this year, she was pictured wearing a nasal cannula, or oxygen breathing tube, for some of her public appearances, and she visited Rikshospitalet in Oslo with her husband and their daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 22, on June 4, the day before the lung transplant wait list confirmation.
Following her surgery, Arnt Fiane, cardiothoracic surgeon and head of the Heart and Lung Transplant Programme at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, said the procedure “has been successful thus far” and expressed his appreciation to the teams behind the scenes.
“We are delighted that everything has progressed well so far. In accordance with standard practice for all recent transplant recipients, Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess will remain admitted to Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet for several weeks to come,” added Are Holm, senior consultant and respiratory specialist at Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet. The hospital stay was described as a “routine procedure to adjust medication, manage any potential complications and undertake rehabilitation.”
Just a few weeks prior to the surgery, Princess Ingrid Alexandra returned home from Australia, where she is in the midst of a three-year bachelor’s degree with a focus on international relations and political economy at the University of Sydney. Shortly thereafter, the royal family announced that the princess planned to spend the fall 2026 semester as an exchange student at the University of Oslo in order to remain close to her family.
Ingrid Alexandra’s younger brother, Prince Sverre Magnus, 20, is also expected to begin university studies this fall, but he plans to remain in Europe and return home when needed.
Following their mother’s surgery, the siblings traveled to the United States to represent the royal family during Norway’s historic run in the World Cup.
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Mette-Marit’s summer has been further complicated by the legal drama surrounding Marius Borg Høiby, her 29-year-old son from a previous relationship. In June, Høiby was sentenced to four years in prison after being found guilty of two counts of rape, among other offenses.
The Crown Princess has yet to speak publicly about her son’s conviction. However, in a Jan. 28 statement, Crown Prince Haakon said, “Our thoughts are with everyone who is affected by this case. It has an impact on the individuals, their families and all those who care about them. We understand that this is a difficult time for many of you, and we sympathize.”
The statement continued: “At the same time, it is reassuring to know that we live in a state governed by the rule of law. I am confident that those responsible for overseeing the proceedings will ensure that the trial is conducted in as orderly, proper, and just a manner as possible.”
Read the original article on People
