Norway’s Crown Princess Mette‑Marit underwent a lung transplant in Oslo following a diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis in 2018. The procedure was deemed successful by a specialist hospital team, who warned that recovery will be delicate. Mrs. Mette‑Marit will remain in hospital for several weeks for monitoring, a standard protocol for transplant recipients.
This medical event aligns with recent developments in the royal family. Two days earlier, Mette‑Marit’s son, Marius Borg Høiby, was convicted and sentenced to four years for two counts of rape. The family is adjusting official duties to provide support amid the public scrutiny of the case.
The transplant highlights a broader context of controversies the Norwegian monarchy faces. In early January, documents surfaced revealing Mette‑Marit’s frequent contact with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, leading to a formal apology for her “poor judgement”. Her earlier friendship with Epstein remains part of the public discourse.
Doctors noted that patients on transplant lists usually have a limited life expectancy. The specialist team clarified that immunosuppressive medication will be required for the rest of her life, and that success rates for lung transplants are about 75% in the first year, halving by 10 years.
The decision to proceed with the transplant was made promptly; the king’s palace announced that Mette‑Marit had been placed on the transplant plate twelve days prior. This marks the latest challenge in a series of events including her son’s criminal case and the Epstein scandal.
