Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit has undergone a successful lung transplant at Rikshospitalet in Oslo, the Royal House confirmed on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, following a sharp decline in her health linked to long-term pulmonary fibrosis.
The 52-year-old was diagnosed in 2018 with pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive and incurable disease that causes irreversible scarring of lung tissue and severe breathing difficulties. Earlier this month, she was placed on the national transplant waiting list as her condition worsened.
The Royal House said the procedure was successful and that her condition is stable. She is expected to remain in hospital for several weeks for monitoring and post-operative care.
Are Holm, head of the hospital’s pulmonary department, said early progress was encouraging.
“We are very pleased that everything has gone well so far,” he said.
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Doctors said the coming weeks will be critical as she undergoes close observation, medication adjustments and rehabilitation, standard steps after a lung transplant.
Crown Prince Haakon will adjust his official schedule to remain close to her during recovery, the Royal House added. Further updates are expected after her discharge.
Mette-Marit’s condition has steadily worsened since her diagnosis in 2018, increasingly limiting her public duties. The palace confirmed earlier this month that a transplant had become necessary.
Her health challenges come amid a difficult period for the royal family. On Monday, her eldest son, Marius Borg Høiby, was sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of rape and other offences. He has denied parts of the case and plans to appeal.
She also faced scrutiny over past contact with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. She apologised earlier this year, saying she had been misled and felt unsafe during a 2013 meeting in the United States. She has not been accused of wrongdoing.
Despite recent pressures, Wednesday’s announcement marks a significant medical milestone in her ongoing battle with illness.