This morning, the Norwegian Royal Family announced Crown Princess Mette-Marit had undergone a successful lung transplant. “The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess express their sincere gratitude for the many warm and kind messages they have received. This means a great deal to them at this challenging time,” the Palace said in a statement.
While no members of the Norwegian royals have publicly commented on the transplant as of yet, Queen Mary of Denmark told reporters ahead of an engagement today, “I understand that the surgery went well. I am very happy to hear that. Our warmest thoughts are with the Crown Princess and the whole family.”
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Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Queen Mary, and King Frederik in 2024.
Historically, the Norwegian and Danish royals have been close. They are both members of the House of Glücksburg; Queen Margrethe (King Frederik’s mother) and King Harald (Prince Haakon’s father) are second cousins, and many of the Scandinavian royals are also godparents for each other’s children.
Queen Mary and King Frederik visited Norway in 2024, their first official state visit to the country and just their second trip abroad as king and queen. As the Associated Press noted, “Danish monarchs, whose roles are ceremonial, traditionally travel to other Scandinavian countries first.”
No further updates will be shared on Princess Mette-Marit’s health until she is discharged from the hospital. Are Holm, Professor of Medicine at University of Oslo and Senior Consultant and respiratory specialist at Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, said of the surgery, “We are delighted that everything has progressed well so far. In accordance with standard practice for all recent transplant recipients, Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess will remain admitted to Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet for several weeks to come. This is a routine procedure to adjust medication, manage any potential complications, and undertake rehabilitation.”
Emily Burack (she/her) is the Deputy Digital Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, celebrities, the royals, and a wide range of other topics. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms.