Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit likely to receive lung transplant

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway will likely undergo a lung transplant, the Palace has revealed.

The future Queen of Norway, 52, was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, a disease where a build-up of scar tissue makes it challenging for the lungs to carry oxygen into the bloodstream.

Over Autumn, the mother of three and wife of Crown Prince Haakon underwent several tests, which showed her condition has worsened over the years.

Doctors at Rikshospitalet University Hospital have therefore assessed whether Mette-Marit, who strongly wishes to continue carrying out royal duties under an adapted programme, will require transplant surgery.

'We are reaching the point where a lung transplant will be necessary, and we are undertaking the necessary preparations to ensure that this will be possible when the time comes,' said Martin Holm, Professor and Head of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Rikshospitalet University Hospital, on Friday.

Dr Holm, who is a specialist in internal medicine and pulmonary diseases, added: 'At present, no decision has been taken as to when the Crown Princess will be placed on the lung transplant waiting list.'

Mette-Marit is following a targeted exercise regimen, rest and physical rehabilitation schedule to help with the pulmonary fibrosis.

In September, it was announced that the Crown Princess would not perform official duties in October as she underwent a month of lung rehabilitation in Norway.

However, there were 'some exceptions', including a dinner for members of parliament on October 23.

Translated into English, the message read: 'Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit will undergo a month of lung rehabilitation in Norway starting at the beginning of October.

'Therefore, the Crown Princess will not perform official duties in October, although some exceptions are planned, such as the dinner for the members of parliament at the Royal Palace on October 23. The Crown Princess is scheduled to resume her official work in November.'

This year has been particularly difficult for Mette-Marit, both in terms of her health and her family life.

In August, her son, Marius Borg Høiby, 28, was charged with 32 offences, including four rapes and assault, by a Norwegian prosecutor.

The alleged acts include four rapes of four different women between 2018 and 2024, abuse against his former partner, Nora Haukland, and several acts of violence against another former partner. He has vehemently denied the charges. 

His trial, set to start on February 3 next year at the Oslo District Court, is expected to last six weeks, according to Norwegian publication Nettavisen. 

Mette-Marit's health condition was first made public in 2018, when she issued a statement explaining that the condition 'means my working capacity will vary' to accommodate her treatment, including 'periods of time without an official programme'.

'For a number of years, I have had health challenges on a regular basis, and now we know more about what is involved,' the royal said. 'The condition means that my working capacity will vary. 

'The Crown Prince and I are choosing to make this public now partly because in future there will be a need to plan periods of time without an official programme to accommodate treatment and when the disease is more active.' 

Pulmonary fibrosis is incurable and worsens over time, but the Norwegian royal's doctor, Professor Kristian Bjøro at the National Hospital, said they'd been monitoring her condition for several years and the 'disease progression has been slow over this period'.

Not much is known about the unusual variant of fibrosis that was detected in Mette-Marit's lung, but, according to the Royal House, 'There is broad consensus that, unlike other more common types of pulmonary fibrosis, it is not related to environmental or lifestyle factors.'

The fact that the disease was detected at an early stage improves Mette-Marit's prognosis, as per the Palace's official statement.

'Even if such a diagnosis will limit my life at times, I am glad that the disease has been discovered so early. My goal is still to work and participate in the official programme as much as possible,' she said.

According to the NHS, the symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis include shortness of breath, loss of appetite and weight loss, extreme tiredness, a persistent dry cough and swollen fingertips. 

In March, the palace confirmed that the royal's condition had progressed to such a degree that she was experiencing symptoms on a daily basis, requiring her to take 'more rest'.

WHAT IS PULMONARY FIBROSIS?

Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition in which the lungs become scarred and breathing becomes increasingly difficult.

It's not clear what causes it, but it usually affects people around 70-75 years of age and is rare in people under 50.

Several treatments can help reduce the rate at which IPF gets worse, but there's currently no treatment that can stop or reverse the scarring of the lungs.

The symptoms of IPF tend to develop gradually and get slowly worse over time.

Symptoms can include:

• Shortness of breath
• A persistent dry cough
• Tiredness
• Loss of appetite and weight loss
• Rounded and swollen fingertips also called clubbed fingers 

There is no cure and it's very difficult to predict how long someone with IPF will survive at the time of diagnosis.

Regular monitoring over time can indicate whether it's getting worse quickly or slowly.

Source: NHS Choices