Overview
- Prince Haakon said on Tuesday that Princess Mette‑Marit’s long‑standing pulmonary fibrosis has worsened and that she now uses oxygen daily, a change that has forced a steady reduction in her public duties.
- The royal household previously signalled a lung transplant could be needed, and Haakon described oxygen therapy as only a partial relief rather than a long‑term solution.
- U.S. Department of Justice records released earlier this year show extensive contacts between Mette‑Marit and Jeffrey Epstein, a revelation the princess has acknowledged by saying she was manipulated and expressing regret.
- Queen Sonia was urgently hospitalized for atrial fibrillation and heart failure complications later in the week and has since been discharged after observation and treatment.
- Mette‑Marit’s health disclosures, the Epstein correspondence and the ongoing trial of her son Marius Borg Høiby—whose sentencing is set for 15 June and who remains in custody—have combined to lower public support for the Norwegian monarchy and raise questions about institutional stability.