Norway's Crown Princess Undergoes Successful Lung Transplant, Palace Says

Wed Jun 17 2026 16:58:53 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Crown Princess Mette‑Marit received a life‑saving lung transplant in Oslo after years battling pulmonary fibrosis, the royal household announced.

Norway’s Crown Princess Mette‑Marit has successfully undergone a lung transplant in Oslo after years of battling pulmonary fibrosis, according to the royal household. The surgery followed a rapid deterioration of her health that led her to be placed on the transplant list, with doctors estimating she had only a year to live. An expert at the hospital, Are Holm, confirmed that the operation went well and that the princess will be monitored for several weeks. The transplant comes amid other family controversies, including the recent prison sentence of her son and revelations of a past connection with Jeffrey Epstein.

Norway's Crown Princess Undergoes Successful Lung Transplant, Palace Says

Norway’s Crown Princess Mette‑Marit, 52, has successfully received a lung transplant in Oslo, the royal household announced after years of debilitating pulmonary fibrosis.

Crown Princess Mette‑Marit with oxygen device before transplant — Crown Princess Mette‑Marit pictured with an oxygen device before her transplant.

The princess had been diagnosed with a rare form of pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, and her condition had worsened, prompting doctors to place her on the transplant list when it became clear she had only about a year to live.

Dr. Are Holm, a lung specialist at Oslo’s hospital, said the operation was “very successful” and that the princess will stay in the hospital for several weeks under observation, a standard practice for transplant recipients.

The palace added that Prince Haakon will adjust his official schedule to support his wife, underscoring the royal family’s concern for her wellbeing.

The transplant arrives after another family drama: the princess’s son, Marius Borg Høiby, was sentenced to four years in prison for rape charges, his lawyers unsuccessfully seeking his release so he could visit her.

Royal historian Ole‑Jørgen Schulsrud‑Hansen described the transplant as "very happy news" for the country, noting it was a major milestone after a year marked by controversies, including the princess’s past friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.