Mette-Marit’s lung transplant has so far been successful, the Norwegian Royal Court said on Wednesday, after the Crown Princess underwent surgery at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet in Oslo. The announcement marks a major step in the treatment of her chronic lung disease, but doctors said she will remain in hospital for several weeks as part of the standard recovery process for newly transplanted patients.
The Norwegian Royal Court did not specify when the operation took place. Arnt Fiane, head of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (Thoraxkirurgisk avdeling) at Rikshospitalet, said the lung transplant had “so far been successful” and thanked the medical team involved in planning and carrying out the procedure.
Are Holm, head of the Department of Pulmonary Medicine (Lungeavdelingen) at Rikshospitalet, said the Crown Princess will stay at the hospital in the coming weeks to adjust medication, monitor possible complications and begin rehabilitation. The Royal Court said the next update on her condition is expected when she is discharged.
Mette-Marit’s lung transplant follows years of pulmonary fibrosis
Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 52, was diagnosed in 2018 with pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic disease that causes scarring in the lungs and reduces the body’s ability to take in oxygen. The condition has affected her public role for several years, leading her to reduce or cancel official duties when her health required it.
On 5 June, the Royal Court announced that she had been placed on Norway’s waiting list for a lung transplant after a serious progression of her disease. At the time, Holm described the development of her illness as serious and said the operation would take place as soon as a suitable donor became available.
The rapid sequence between the public announcement of the waiting-list placement and Wednesday’s confirmation of the surgery drew attention in Norway. Hospital officials have previously stressed that organ allocation follows medical criteria and that members of the Royal Family do not receive preferential treatment. Compatibility depends on several factors, including organ size, blood type and tissue matching.
Haakon adjusts his schedule during the hospital stay
Crown Prince Haakon will adjust his programme to spend more time with the Crown Princess during her hospital stay. According to the Royal Court, this is part of the family’s response to a difficult medical situation that is expected to require several weeks of close follow-up.
Norwegian media reported that Haakon will not attend two scheduled audiences on Thursday, including meetings that had been listed with Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide and the head of the Home Guard (Heimevernet), Frode Ommundsen. The adjustment follows earlier changes to the Royal Family’s calendar after Mette-Marit’s health situation worsened.
The health of the Crown Princess had already affected several royal plans. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess postponed celebrations for their silver wedding anniversary, originally planned for August 2026, and Mette-Marit will not take part in a county visit scheduled for September. Princess Ingrid Alexandra returned to Norway earlier this month to be closer to the family.
A complex recovery under close medical monitoring
A lung transplant is a major operation followed by a long and closely monitored recovery. In the immediate period after surgery, doctors typically focus on whether the body is accepting the new lungs, whether infections develop, and how the patient responds to immunosuppressive medication.
Danish specialist Michael Perch, a leading consultant at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, told TV 2 Denmark that lung transplants are highly complex and that patients often face challenges in the postoperative phase. These may range from medication side effects and infections to more serious complications, including bleeding or the need for further surgery.
For this reason, the Royal Court’s wording remains cautious. The operation has gone well “so far”, but the hospital stay will be used to stabilise treatment, manage risks and start physical rehabilitation. The phrasing reflects standard medical caution rather than a signal of a specific complication.
Warm messages from Denmark and across Norway
The announcement prompted public reactions in Norway and messages of support from other Nordic royal houses. Denmark’s Queen Mary said on Wednesday that she was glad to hear the operation had gone well and sent her “warmest thoughts” to Crown Princess Mette-Marit and her family.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess also thanked the public for the warm messages they have received in recent weeks. The Royal Court said the expressions of care mean a great deal in the demanding situation the family is facing.
The news comes at a sensitive moment for the Norwegian Royal Family, which has been under intense public scrutiny in recent months. The health of the Crown Princess, however, has been treated by the Royal Court as a separate medical matter, with limited updates and a clear emphasis on privacy during her recovery.
Mette-Marit’s recovery will now depend on the coming weeks at Rikshospitalet. The next official update is expected only when she leaves hospital, suggesting that the Royal Court wants to avoid daily medical briefings while the Crown Princess begins the long process of rehabilitation after her lung transplant.
