Crown Princess Mette-Marit has cancelled an official visit to the Red Cross today in the middle of the event. The press was in another room waiting for the Crown Princess to arrive when they were told that she had left.
The Royal Court has issued a statement saying that the Crown Princess had to cancel in the middle of the event due to side effects from the drugs she is taking for her pulmonary fibrosis. The treatment takes place at the National Hospital in Oslo, according to the Royal House. At this moment the Royal Court has refused to comment any further on the matter.
On September 27th 2022, Crown Princess Mette-Marit was visiting the Red Cross Women’s Centre in Oslo on the occasion of the centre marking ten years in operation. As a gift, the Crown Princess brought a cake with her when she arrived at the centre. The Crown Princess is the High Patron of the Norwegian Red Cross. She managed to meet several employees as agreed, before she had to cancel the visit for health-related reasons.
Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic lung disease that causes more discomfort at times. The Crown Princess was diagnosed with the disease in October 2018. At the time, the Norwegian Royal Court then wrote in a press release that this could limit the performance of her official engagements.
The Crown Princess herself has also been open about the fact that at times she cannot work as much as she would like. She has sometimes had to cancel assignments or participate in a smaller capacity than normal. Last month she was infected with Covid-19.
Pulmonary fibrosis causes abnormal scarring in the alveoli. The lungs become stiffer and less elastic, and when the lungs are not able to expand to the same extent as before, those with the condition get less volume to breathe with.
