Norway’s Crown Prince is cutting short an important overseas visit as concerns grow over his wife’s health.
Crown Prince Haakon is set to head to Japan on June 1 for a trip focused on economic and social ties but the royal palace in Oslo has just announced that the long planned visit is being shortened with immediate effect over worries for the health of Crown Princess Mette-Marit.
The heir to the throne of Norway will now spend just three days in Japan before heading back to Oslo.
In recent days, Crown Prince Haakon has revealed that his wife is now very ill and worries are mounting as she continues treatment for pulmonary fibrosis.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 52, was diagnosed with the incurable condition in 2018. In late 2025, her medical team announced they were starting to prepare for a potential lung transplant for the Crown Princess who has scaled back her public engagements massively in recent months.
Crown Prince Haakon recently told reporters that ”the Crown Princess is seriously ill, and I think she has gotten a bit worse lately. So I am worried about her health.”
Soon afterwards, his father, King Harald also expressed public concerns about Crown Princess Mette-Marit. Addressing reporters, King Harald said ”The Crown Princess is seriously ill, and I think she has gotten a bit worse lately. So I am worried about her health.”
On May 17, Norway’s National Day, Crown Princess Mette-Marit joined her family for celebrations but was seen using an oxygen tube and had to sit during the traditional children’s parade which begins the festivities.
In recent months, her public reputation has been hit by a number of issues including her appearance, several times, in the Epstein files. The papers linked to Jeffrey Epstein showed a friendship between the Crown Princess of Norway and the convicted sex offender which included a stay for the royal at one of his homes. An interview by Crown Princess Mette-Marit, to explain the relationship, was badly received.
King Harald, however, said ‘w’e must remember that the Crown Princess has not done anything illegal….and she broke this connection. Unlike some others in Norway, she broke the connection very early so I think we should give her credit for that.”
Meanwhile, Mette-Marit’s son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Hoiby, is on trial for a number of crimes, including rape, allegations he denies.
Norway’s royals are experiencing a difficult time of late. Queen Sonja, 88, is currently being treated for heart fibrillation and was briefly admitted to hospital. And the only surviving sister of King Harald, 94 year old Princess Astrid, has also been in hospital several times in recent months.
Norway’s royal family is one of the smallest in Europe with official engagements carried out by King Harald and Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Princess Astrid. The two children the Crown Prince and Princess have together, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magus, make occasional appearances.
Ingrid Alexandra, 22, who is second in line to the throne is currently studying in Australia.
