The Royal Palace in Oslo announced on Friday that Crown Princess Mette-Marit has been placed on the waiting list for a lung transplant following a serious deterioration of her chronic lung disease. The decision comes after a comprehensive medical assessment at Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet.
Professor Are Holm, a respiratory specialist at the University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, stated: “The progression of the Crown Princess's lung disease is serious. After a comprehensive medical assessment, she has now been placed on the list of patients who will undergo a lung transplant as soon as it is possible.”
Mette-Marit was diagnosed in 2018 with a rare form of pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable condition that causes progressive breathing difficulties. The disease has repeatedly forced her to take sick leave and reduce her official engagements. In recent public appearances, she has been seen using a breathing tube connected to a portable oxygen device.
Impact on Royal Duties and Family
While awaiting the transplant, the Crown Princess will be unable to carry out her official duties, the palace confirmed. Crown Prince Haakon will also adjust his schedule, limiting longer journeys both within Norway and abroad before and after the operation. The couple has postponed the celebration of their silver wedding anniversary, originally planned for August 2026.
Their daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, has interrupted her studies at the University of Sydney to return to Norway. She plans to remain in Oslo throughout the autumn to support her mother.
How Lung Transplants Work in Europe
Lung transplantation is a major surgical procedure lasting between four and eight hours. Recovery typically requires a two- to three-week hospital stay followed by three months of close monitoring. Patients must take lifelong immunosuppressants to prevent organ rejection. Most return to normal activities within three to six months after a successful transplant.
In Europe, countries operate within collaborative transplant networks. Norway is part of Scandiatransplant, an organisation covering Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden — a population of approximately 29.8 million. Around 2,000 patients receive transplants annually through this network. As of 1 January 2026, 61 people were waiting for a lung transplant within Scandiatransplant.
In Norway, only Oslo University Hospital performs lung transplants, with about 30 procedures each year. The average waiting time in 2025 was six months. Allocation is not chronological; organs go to the best match and most urgent patients.
For context on healthcare waiting times across Europe, see our analysis: Europe's Healthcare Waiting Lists: Which Countries Leave Patients Waiting Longest?
