Overview
- Crown Princess Mette-Marit turned up Tuesday at Oslo’s Royal Palace to greet Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde in a surprise kickoff to their state visit.
- The palace had said she would skip the visit because her health had worsened, and she was left off the official program.
- She has chronic pulmonary fibrosis, and officials say preparations are underway for an assessment for a possible lung transplant, so she is not expected at other state-visit events.
- The appearance followed last week’s NRK interview in which she expressed deep regret for a past friendship with Jeffrey Epstein after U.S. Justice Department files in January named her.
- Her family strain continues with son Marius Borg Høiby’s high-profile trial in Oslo now concluded for hearings, with prosecutors seeking seven years and seven months and a verdict expected in June.