Palace Shares Update on Crown Princess Mette-Marit's Royal Role as Chronic Disease 'Progresses'

Mar. 15, 2025

Rune Hellestad - Corbis/Getty

Crown Princess Mette-Maritof Norway will be shifting her royal responsibilities as her chronic pulmonary fibrosis has “progressed,” the Royal House of Norway announced on March 6.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 51, is married toCrown Prince Haakon, the heir to the throne, and the palace publicized herdiagnosis of the conditionin October 2018.

The Royal House said in the health update, “Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s chronic disease pulmonary fibrosis has progressed.”

“The Crown Princess has daily symptoms and ailments that affect her ability to perform her duties. The Crown Princess needs more rest, and her daily routine changes more quickly than before,” thestatementcontinued. “This means that changes to her official schedule may occur more frequently, and at shorter notice than we are used to.”

Crown Princes Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit at the Save the Children Peace Prize Party at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway on Dec. 10, 2024.Per Ole Hagen/Getty

Per Ole Hagen/Getty

The court emphasized that Princess Mette-Marit was committed to continuing her work and that her calendar would change to meet her needs now.

“The Crown Princess has a strong desire to continue working, and therefore we will organize her official program in the future in the best possible way so that her health and work can be combined,” the royal house concluded.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit seemed to be in good spirits when she stepped out for a royal engagement the day before for a visit to Oslo University Hospital Ullevål to see how the hospital’s clowns (professional actors who undergo a training program) lift spirits for the kids receiving care there.

TheMayo Clinicdefines chronic pulmonary fibrosis as a lung disease that occurs when lung tissue becomes scarred, making it more difficult for the lungs to work properly. It can worsen over time and can be difficult for doctors to identify the cause of the problem.

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The court shared six years ago that the Crown Princess was diagnosed with chronic pulmonary fibrosis in an announcement that acknowledged that the condition “may limit the performance of her official program at times.”

Mette-Marit briefly went onsick leavein October 2024 due to side effects of a medication she was taking for her chronic lung disease, the Royal Court of Norway told PEOPLE at the time.

source: people.com