Norway's Palace Shares Health Update on Crown Princess Mette-Marit amid Assessment for Lung Transplant

Janine HenniTue, March 10, 2026 at 5:39 PM UTC

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Crown Princess Mette-Marit visits Fredrikstad Library to mark its 100th anniversary on Jan. 28, 2026 in Fredrikstad, NorwayCredit: Rune Hellestad - Corbis/Corbis via Getty -

The Royal House of Norway shared an update regarding Crown Princess Mette-Marit's health and chronic pulmonary fibrosis

The palace said her health requires tailored care, rest and an adjusted schedule, with no engagements planned for the next few weeks

The update came after Mette-Marit, 52, was named in the latest batch of Epstein files released in January and amid her son Marius Borg Høiby's ongoing trial

The Royal House of Norway emphasized that Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway's health remains delicate as her chronic lung disease worsens.

Mette-Marit, 52, has chronic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease that occurs when lung tissue becomes scarred, making it more difficult for the lungs to function. The Crown Princess has not undertaken engagements since Jan. 28, and her calendar remains clear of engagements for the next two weeks, prompting Norwegian outlet TV2 to inquire if she was on sick leave.

Palace communications manager Guri Varpe told TV2 in a story published on March 9, "As is known, the Crown Princess has the chronic disease pulmonary fibrosis. As we communicated in December, there has been a clear negative development in the Crown Princess's health recently, and preparations have begun with a view to an assessment for a lung transplant."

"The Crown Princess has an increasing need for tailored training, rest and recovery, and her official program is adapted to her health condition," Varpe added.

Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette- Marit visit Fredrikstad Library to mark its 100th anniversary on Jan. 28, 2026.Credit: Rune Hellestad - Corbis/Corbis via Getty

The Royal House of Norway confirmed the update when reached by PEOPLE.

The update referenced the palace's December 2025 statement that Mette-Marit's lung condition had escalated and that she was being assessed for a lung transplant.

"Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018. This disease involves a buildup of scar tissue to the lungs, which makes it more difficult for the lungs to carry oxygen into the bloodstream. During the autumn, a number of tests have been carried out that show a clear worsening of the Crown Princess’ health," said the statement released on Dec. 19.

"The physicians at Rikshospitalet University Hospital have therefore started the process towards an evaluation for potential lung transplant surgery," it continued, in part.

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Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette- Marit visit Fredrikstad Library to mark its 100th anniversary on Jan. 28, 2026.Credit: Rune Hellestad - Corbis/Corbis via Getty

The Royal House announced in October 2018 that Mette-Marit was diagnosed with chronic pulmonary fibrosis, a condition that can worsen over time and has no known cure. Crown Prince Haakon's wife took time off in October 2025 to undergo pulmonary rehabilitation and told the press shortly before that she was undergoing the program because she needed "a little more help than before to cope with daily life."

Crown Princess Mette-Marit's most recent royal engagement was a joint duty with her husband to mark the 100th anniversary of Fredrikstad Library on Jan. 28, and on the same day, the palace released a statement revealing that she was "planning a private stay over the coming weeks."

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That update came in an extensive press release from the palace about the trial of Mette-Marit's son, Marius Borg Høiby, which began on Feb. 3. Marius, 29, is the royal's son from a relationship prior to her marriage to Crown Prince Haakon, and he does not hold a working royal role or have a place in the line of succession.

Marius headed to court in Oslo on 38 charges, including four counts of rape, in a trial expected to run until mid-March. The statement clarified that his mother and stepfather were "not planning to be present in the courtroom" and that the Royal House would not comment on the case as the trial progressed.

A court sketch depicts Marius Borg Hoiby (C) with his defence lawyers Ellen Holager Andenaes (L) and Petar Sekulic (2ndR) during the third day of a trial at the District Court in Oslo, Norway, on Feb. 6, 2026.Credit: Ane Hem / NTB / AFP via Getty

The spotlight on Norway's royal family became even hotter when Crown Princess Mette-Marit was named in the latest batch of files released by the U.S. Department of Justice relating to the investigation of the late Jeffrey Epstein on Jan. 30.

According to Norwegian newspaper VG, Mette-Marite was named over 1,000 times in the files, which illuminated a friendship between her and Epstein, the American financier and convicted sex offender who died while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges in 2019.

A few days after the Jan. 30 file drop, the princess released a statement saying that she "deeply regrets" her ties to Epstein and later issued a formal apology about her friendship with him.

"I would like to express my deepest regret for my friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. It is important for me to apologize to all of you that I have disappointed," Mette-Marit's statement began, per an English translation.

"Some of the content of the messages between Epstein and me does not represent the person I want to be. I also apologize for the situation that I have put the Royal Family in, especially the King and Queen," she continued, referencing her in-laws, King Harald and Queen Sonja.

(Left) Crown Princess Mette-Marit in June 2025; (Right) Jeffreye Epstein in February 1997.Credit: Rune Hellestad - Corbis/Getty; Davidoff Studios/Getty

The royal's apology was shared within a longer statement from the Royal House, which underscored her regret about her links to Epstein and said she disavowed the crimes he committed.

"We understand the strong reactions people have to what has emerged in recent days. The Crown Princess strongly disavows Epstein's abuse and criminal acts. She is very sorry for not having understood early enough what kind of person he was," said the statement from the palace, in part.

"The Crown Princess wants to tell about what happened and explain herself in more detail. She cannot do that now. The Crown Princess is in a very demanding situation," it continued. "She hopes for understanding that she needs time to gather herself."

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