Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway is beloved in her country, and the Norwegian people were devastated to learn that she had been diagnosed with chronic pulmonary fibrosis in 2018.
What is the disease, and how does it affect the Crown Princess?
Pulmonary fibrosis “is a lung disease that occurs when lung tissue becomes damaged and scarred. This thickened, stiff tissue makes it more difficult for your lungs to work properly. As pulmonary fibrosis worsens, you become progressively more short of breath,” according to the Mayo Clinic.
The Norweigan Royal Court revealed her diagnosis in October 2018, and at that time, the Royal Court said finding the disease early “is favourable considering the prognosis.”
They said then that the royal had “undergone extensive investigations related to her health, and an unusual variant of fibrosis has been detected in the lungs, according to the Crown Princess’s doctor, Professor Kristian Bjøro, at the National Hospital. It is not yet clear whether the pulmonary disease is linked to a more extensive autoimmune disease process or if there are other causes that underlie the lung changes.”
The Royal Court stressed there has been a “broad consensus that it is not related to environmental or lifestyle factors as is the case with other more common types of pulmonary fibrosis.”
Since then, Her Royal Highness has limited her royal duties to prioritise her health. However, that doesn’t mean she is not active in Norway and helping the causes she cares about – she just now does it more behind the scenes.
Mette-Marit still participates in her annual literature train and travels in and out of Norway when her health allows. She was present at the Coronation of King Charles III in London earlier this year.
The Crown Princess has spoken about her diagnosis in the past, admitting she finds it hard to discuss. She said: “I am well aware of my state of health, but I do not want him to get so much attention from outside, which is one of the reasons why I like my ‘new little life’ so much.”
The royal made the remarks during a tv interview in October 2019 – a year after her diagnosis was made public.
On the effects of the disease, Her Royal Highness remarked, “I am exhausted faster than before, so today I have to take more care of myself than I did before.” She added that she takes medications that assist in keeping track of her illness.
She also spoke about how chronic pulmonary fibrosis has allowed her to have time to herself, “I can decide more about my everyday life, and I realise how good it is to me, I can just go for a walk and have more time to read, life has slowed down.”
Although the Crown Princess of Norway is not seen as publicly as before, her dedication to public service and Norway has not wavered.
