Published on
Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit has undergone a successful lung transplant at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, the Royal palace has announced.
Mette-Marit, 52, was diagnosed in 2018 with a rare form of pulmonary fibrosis, a condition which causes lung scarring and difficulty breathing.
“I have had occasional health challenges for a number of years, and now we know more about their underlying causes,” Mette-Marit said at the time, adding that the condition could affect her work schedule at times.
Arnt Fiane, a professor of medicine at the University of Oslo and a cardiothoracic surgeon, expressed his delight that the transplant procedure had gone well so far and said that Mette-Marit would remain in hospital for a number of weeks.
This will allow medical staff to make any necessary changes to medication, manage potential complications and aid with her recovery, he added.
“The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess express their sincere gratitude for the many warm and kind messages they have received. This means a great deal to them at this challenging time,” the palace said in a press release on Wednesday.
It comes just days after Mette-Marit’s eldest son, Marius Borg Høiby, was sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of two counts of rape and other offences.
Høiby, who is not formally part of the royal household, was acquitted of two other counts of rape but was also convicted of domestic abuse against an ex-girlfriend and further offences.