The Norwegian royal family has issued a heartbreaking update on Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s rare cancer battle, saying she requires “more rest” as her situation worsens.
The royal, 51, is declining in health amid her battle with pulmonary fibrosis — an incurable condition that scars lungs and causes shortness of breath.
The palace has since said the condition is now affecting her royal duties.
“The Crown Princess has daily symptoms and ailments that affect her ability to perform her duties,” the official statement read. “The Crown Princess needs more rest, and her daily routine changes more quickly than before.”
“This means that changes to her official schedule may occur more frequently and at shorter notice than we are used to,” the statement went on.
“The Crown Princess has a strong desire to continue working, and therefore we will organize her official program in the future in the best possible way so that her health and work can be combined.”
The princess’s cancer battle was made public in October 2018.
At the time, the royal said her condition “means my working capacity will vary’ to accommodate her treatment including ‘periods of time without an official program.”
Her condition significantly worsened in September 2023 and October 2024 when she was forced to take sick leave for several weeks, subsequently canceling all of her royal engagements at the time.
“When you get to be 50, you understand that life is not eternal,” she told Norwegian daily DN in August 2023 ahead of her 50th birthday.
Princess Mette-Marit has faced a difficult few months after her son, Marius Borg Høiby, was arrested and taken into custody on rape charges in November last year.
The 28-year-old — who is the princess’ eldest son born before her marriage to the heir apparent to the Norwegian throne, Crown Prince Haakon, was arrested for allegedly raping a woman in Oslo — his third arrest in a matter of months.
Police ultimately let him go, saying they did not have enough vital evidence to the case to keep him detained.
While he’s since been released from custody, Oslo police have launched a new investigation into a fresh sexual assault allegation against Borg Høiby, for which he has not been charged.
