Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit has successfully undergone a lung transplant, according to an announcement released by the royal palace on Wednesday.
The palace said the procedure was carried out successfully and that the 52-year-old royal is currently recovering at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, where she is expected to remain for several weeks under close medical supervision.
In a statement issued through the palace, lung specialist Are Holm expressed optimism about her recovery.
“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,” Holm said.
Mette-Marit was diagnosed in 2018 with a rare form of pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic disease that causes progressive scarring of the lungs and can lead to severe breathing difficulties.
Medical experts had previously disclosed that her condition had worsened considerably over the last six months. On June 5, doctors confirmed that she had been placed on the waiting list for a lung transplant as her health continued to decline.
According to specialists, a lung transplant is generally considered a final treatment option for patients whose life expectancy is estimated to be less than two years without the procedure.
Following the surgery, the Norwegian royal family announced that Crown Prince Haakon, heir to the Norwegian throne, will scale back his official engagements in order to spend more time supporting his wife during her recovery.
The positive news regarding the Crown Princess’s health comes during a difficult period for the royal family.
Earlier this week, an Oslo court sentenced her 29-year-old son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Hoiby, to four years in prison after finding him guilty of two counts of rape and dozens of other offences.
Hoiby was convicted on 34 charges in total. However, he has denied the most serious allegations, and his legal representatives have indicated that an appeal will be filed against the ruling.
Despite the personal challenges facing the family, the successful transplant has been welcomed as a significant step forward in Mette-Marit’s battle against the debilitating lung disease.
