Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway Goes on Sick Leave from Royal Duty ‘Due to Side Effects’ of Medication

Mar. 15, 2025

Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway, pictured during the ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the Nordic Embassies on Oct. 21, 2024 in Berlin, Germany.Photo:Florian Gaertner/Photothek via Getty

Florian Gaertner/Photothek via Getty

Crown Princess Mette-Maritof Norway is currently on sick leave, the Royal Court tells PEOPLE.

In a statement received on Oct. 23, the Royal Court adds that Mette-Marit, 51, is stepping away from royal duty “Due to side effects of the medication that Her Royal Highness is using for her chronic lung disease.”

“She is on sick leave, initially for a week,” the court says. “Her official program during this period will be canceled or postponed.”

PEOPLE reported in 2018 that Mette-Marit had been diagnosed with a chronic lung disease, chronic pulmonary fibrosis, which occurs when lung tissue becomes scarred and causes reduced oxygen supply in the blood, according to theMayo Clinic.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway attends a dinner for the heads of state of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Nordic Embassies in Berlin at Bellevue Palace on Oct. 21, 2024 in Berlin, Germany.Gerald Matzka/Getty

Gerald Matzka/Getty

Hello!reported on Oct. 12 that the wife ofCrown Prince Haakonhad started treatment, citing the Norwegian Royal House.

Chronic pulmonary fibrosis is incurable and progressively worsens over time, but Mette-Marit’s doctor at the National Hospital, Professor Kristian Bjøro, says that “The development of the disease over this period has been slow.”

Hello!also reported that Bjøro is confident that collaboration with medical teams abroad and Mette-Marit’s participation in treatment trials will help with the disease, the outlet reported.

In 2018, the royal said in a statement, “For a number of years, I have had health challenges on a regular basis, and now we know more about what these are in. The condition means that the working capacity will vary. The Crown Prince and I choose to inform about this now, partly because in future there will be a need to plan periods without official program. In connection with treatment and when the disease is more active, this will be necessary.”

The Royal Court said that catching the disease early “is favorable considering the prognosis.”

“Although such a diagnosis in times will limit my life, I’m glad that the disease has been discovered so early,” Mette-Marit said in her 2018 statement. “My goal is still to work and participate in the official program as much as possible.”

Rune Hellestad - Corbis/Getty

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On Aug. 7, theAssociated Pressreported that Marius faces preliminary charges of bodily harm and criminal damage, citing the Oslo police.

The police added that there was “a relationship between the suspect and the victim” but said they “currently do not have information that the victim has suffered serious injuries,” the AP reported.

While in Paris for the 2024 Olympics, Haakon spoke out about the issue, telling reporters that “It is a serious matter when the police are involved in the way they are, but at the same time, it is not right for me to go into the details of the case,” according to theDaily Express.

Mette-Marit, who was originally due to join her husband in Paris,opted to stay behind.

“In our family, as in all families, it is sometimes important to be there. This time it was me who went while she stayed at home,” Crown Prince Haakon said, according to theDaily Express.

Mette-Marit and Haakon also share two children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 20, and Prince Sverre Magnus, 18.

source: people.com