The Crown Princess of Norway has successfully undergone a lung transplant

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway has successfully undergone a lung transplant and will remain in hospital for several weeks to begin her recovery, doctors at Oslo University Hospital announced Wednesday.

Aged 52, the wife of Crown Prince Haakon of Norway suffered from pulmonary fibrosis diagnosed in 2018. This chronic disease causes progressive scarring of the lungs, reducing their ability to properly oxygenate the body.

In a statement released by the royal palace, the hospital indicated that the procedure had been successful "so far", without specifying the exact date of the operation.

Professor Are Holm, from Oslo University Hospital, explained that the Crown Princess would remain under medical observation for several weeks in order to adjust her immunosuppressant treatment, prevent possible complications and begin her physical rehabilitation.

This operation comes after a significant deterioration in his health. In early June, doctors announced he had been placed on a waiting list for a lung transplant, estimating that his life expectancy was greatly reduced without intervention.

The royal palace indicated that the princely couple thanked the public for the many messages of support received. No further information on their health is expected to be released before their discharge from the hospital.

Medical officials also emphasized that members of the royal family do not receive preferential treatment in organ allocation. In Norway, approximately 30 to 35 lung transplants are performed each year, according to data from Oslo University Hospital.

This intervention comes at a difficult time for the Norwegian monarchy. This week, Marius Borg Høiby, the Crown Princess's son from a previous relationship, was sentenced to four years in prison for rape and domestic violence. His lawyer has indicated that he will appeal the decision.

Furthermore, the royal family has recently faced several controversies that have affected its popularity. According to polls conducted this year, support for the monarchy reached its lowest level ever before rising slightly in recent months.

Mette-Marit's story remains one of the most remarkable in the modern Norwegian monarchy. A single mother from a non-aristocratic background when she met Haakon at a music festival in 1999, she has become over the years one of the most popular figures in the royal family, notably thanks to her transparency regarding her illness.