Oslo's Royal Palace released the first photographs of Crown Princess Mette-Marit on Monday since she underwent a lung transplant in June, showing her watching Norway's national football team secure a historic World Cup quarter-final berth against Brazil.
The images, posted to the Royal House of Norway's Instagram account, depict the 52-year-old crown princess seated on a couch beside her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, as they followed the match from the palace. A second photograph shows the couple gazing out a window at jubilant crowds gathered outside.
"Yesterday turned into a historic evening!" the palace wrote in its social media post.
Despite this brief public appearance, a palace spokeswoman confirmed to AFP that Mette-Marit has not yet been discharged from hospital. Her medical team continues to monitor her recovery closely after the transplant procedure, which was announced as "successful" on 17 June.
A Long Health Battle
Mette-Marit was diagnosed in 2018 with pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive lung disease that causes scarring of lung tissue and leads to shortness of breath. The condition forced her to scale back her official royal duties over the years. Her health deteriorated significantly in the six months before the transplant, leading doctors to place her on the waiting list on 5 June.
The crown princess's health struggles have unfolded against a backdrop of personal and institutional challenges for the Norwegian monarchy. Her 29-year-old son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby, was sentenced in June to four years in prison by an Oslo court for two counts of rape and 32 other offences, following a six-week trial in February and March. Høiby has denied the most serious charges, and his lawyers have appealed the verdict, according to local media.
The trial has damaged the monarchy's standing in public opinion, adding to the pressure on the royal family. Mette-Marit has also faced scrutiny over her past friendship with convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein; documents released in January revealed frequent contacts between 2011 and 2014, after Epstein's initial conviction for soliciting a minor, which shocked many Norwegians.
Norway's royal family remains a symbol of national unity, and Mette-Marit's recovery is being followed closely across the country. For more on the crown princess's health journey, see our earlier report: Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit Recovers After Successful Lung Transplant.
The World Cup victory that brought the crown princess out of hospital was a moment of collective joy for Norway, a nation of 5.5 million that rarely reaches such heights in global football. The match against Brazil, played in the tournament's knockout stage, saw Norway advance to the quarter-finals for the first time in its history. For context on Norway's broader appeal as a destination, see Europe's Pricey Paradises: Greenland, Switzerland, and Norway Top 2026's Most Expensive Destinations.
Mette-Marit's public appearance, though brief, signals a cautious step forward in her recovery. The palace has not announced a timeline for her full return to royal duties, but her presence at such a national celebration underscores her resilience and the support of her family.
