Crown Princess Mette-Marit diagnosed with chronic lung disease: October 2018

[Annine]

I do not think they would have gone out with this new during christmas and have the doctor be so specific and quite brutal about what is comming with the operation, if putting her on the waiting list was unavoidable or many years away. The waitinglist is 20-40 people.

 

[Hans-Rickard]

Thank you to everyone who posted information, and the royal house and court indeed deserve kudos for transparency.

A question for the Norwegian speakers: Do the statements from the Crown Prince Couple, Royal Court, and doctors imply that Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s lung condition will definitely deteriorate to the point where she will need a lung transplant? Or is there still some hope that her disease progression may slow down again before it reaches that critical stage?

From the NRK-interview

The Crown Prince says ”We are not there yet that you will be placed on the waiting list, but all the tests shows that the illness has progressed in that direction, so it is more actual now - we begin to get nearer to the point where the tests will show that it will be neccessarily. So it is something we talk a lot about.

The reporter asks : ”But it is certain that you are heading towards a lung transplant - that it is the way forward for the Crown Princess” ?

Mette Marit says ”Yes we have known all the time that that is where it will go. But i think that point came quicker than at least i had expected”

The doctor says it is too early to put her on the waiting list but that they have began to talk about it to prepare her mentally.

So noone is saying it right out but i really don’t think that they would release this information and prepare the nation for it if there was any hope left for her that a transplant could have been avoided.

 

[Stefan]

That are really bad News. Let'hope that once a lung transplant has taken place that it will be successful.
Here in Germany there is a famous singer Roland Kaiser who had a lung transplant and lives with already since 15 years. But he suffers from another illness then the Crown Princess.

 

[hereditarytitles]

I think what they wanted to say at this point is that the disease is progressing faster than expected. Anyone who is familiar with this particular and quite rare disease knows that it eventually leads to death. The fact that lung transplants can now be performed to save people's lives is a huge step forward.

At the very least, it will prolong Mette Marit's life. And anyone who has the chance to prolong their life, especially if they are still young, will take it. A friend of mine had one lung completely removed 10 years ago, and she lives with it, sometimes well and sometimes badly. But so far, this operation has prolonged her life. If it hadn't been done, she wouldn't be here today.
I sincerely hope for Mette Marit that the surgery is successful. It's not just her who is affected, but also her husband and children, who are probably very worried right now.

Yes, I quoted Dr. Holm's answer. It is clear they don't intend to prioritize the Crown Princess over others, but I wondered, could they have done it if they wanted to?

Sorry, I missed that. I guess they could prioritize because she is a member of the royal family and I am sure issues like that would have been different in centuries long ago. But I trust that in Norway they will be honest about it

 

[Somebody]

I am really sorry to hear that her health situation has worsened. I hope they will have a lovely time during this Christmas break as a family now Ingrid-Alexandra is back. It must be hard for her to leave her mother behind when she returns to Australia in the new year.

I am still trying to understand why they are communicating this now. Previously these updates were typically given if she would reduce her workload as a result of it. However, that's not the emphasis now and the message is that she doesn't need a lung transplantation yet and will not yet be placed on the waiting list. Could it be that they wanted to be together as a family when this was announced or are they making sure they don't have to announce it while Marius' trial is taking place?

 

[Annine]

NRK published more from the year with the royal family

The King:
She is certainly doing what she can, and unfortunately she is doing less and less. The disease is constantly developing. It is difficult, says King Harald to NRK's "Year with the Royal Family".
– But we have to live with this, he adds.

The Queen:
It is sad to see her unwell, Queen Sonja tells "The Year with the Royal Family".

- This illness is not visible on the outside either, so I think it is very difficult for her, because she would like to do a good job, but she does not have the strength. We see that this is something that worries the whole family.

Mette-Marit:
In families where someone is sick, it is clear that it affects the family, says the Crown Princess.
– For me, it is very important that the children get to live their lives and understand how much joy I have in it. Like with Ingrid now, who is studying in Australia. It means so much to me, she says.
– It is important to me that they do not have to do anything differently because of my situation. But it is clear that it is a process for them. It has been difficult for them too, of course.

Kongen om utviklingen i kronprinsessens sykdom: – Det er tungt

Kongeparet sier at forverringen i kronprinsesse Mette-Marits helse er noe som bekymrer hele familien.

www.nrk.no

 

[duke of poliganc]

Such a sad news l wish the crown princess a speedy recovery and if it happens that she has to have the transplant that it goes well!

One of my best friends had a liver transplant which is common but the operation and recovery was really hard and the chances of an infection or that the body reject the organ is quite significant and any transplant patient has to to get a medication for life and regular checkup, also common diseases like a common cold is brutal!

I do applaud their transparency and raising awareness to such a brutal disease!

As for the crown princess been given a priority, I don’t think that this is going to be the case if they added her to the top of the list she will still need to wait for a lung that is compatible to her body, blood type and other requirements so she will need to wait anyway!

 

[tihkon2]

or are they making sure they don't have to announce it while Marius' trial is taking place?

I hate to be cynical, but I believe that yes, that's exactly why they are releasing this information now, just 3 weeks or so before her son's trial for multiple rapes and assaults starts.

 

[duke of poliganc]

I hate to be cynical, but I believe that yes, that's exactly why they are releasing this information now, just 3 weeks or so before her son's trial for multiple rapes and assaults starts.

I don’t think that might be the case as they have been very transparent about her health issue since 2018 way before Marius legal issues so the announcement is not out of the ordinary for them

 

[tihkon2]

I don’t think that might be the case as they have been very transparent about her health issue since 2018 way before Marius legal issues so the announcement is not out of the ordinary for them

I disagree a little. This announcement isn't even saying she's getting a transplant soon. Not even in the near future. It's saying someday she'll likely need a lung transplant. So in my opinion, completely unnecessary to release this information now. But obviously others see this differently. Just stating my thoughts on it.

 

[fortimo]

For me it is strange, that Ingrid-Alexandra studies so far. If my mother would be deadly ill, I would stay in her near. I don't think there was no option in Europe. In England maybe, it seems she choosed an old stylish, traditionel school, what she could find also in England.

 

[Countessmeout]

And yet has had to cancel engagements more and more, and taken less engagements......

Its a progressive disease. Sorry she hasn't suffered or died soon enough to fit some time lines. Imagine saying to a royal suffering cancer per say 'you haven't lost your hair, it must just be a stunt'

The reality if for her to qualify to even make the lung transplant list, she has to be in certain health quality etc. Meaning she will likely have to step way back, if not all together, in coming weeks. Even before on the list. The transplant is massive risk. Not just the chance of rejecting the lungs, but the huge risk of infections for over a year after as your immune system is weakened. All for a surgery that won't cure her, will only assure her maybe 4 years (some have been known to live 5 after transplant).

 

[Tatiana Maria]

In terms of optics, I could understand if they decided this announcement was better made now than during or after the trial. Crown Prince Haakon saying the family is hurting from seeing Crown Princess Mette-Marit struggle, and grieving that she can no longer join them in small things like hiking and skiing, is moving, but if that interview aired in between daily graphic testimonies about Marius beating and raping women, I imagine there could have been “Your family is hurting? What about those poor women?” reactions from some members of the public watching the trial.

 

[Hans-Rickard]

There is no need to question todays announcement when some of Norway’s leading transplant surgeons has confirmed her diagnosis.

Stay on topic now.

 

[tommy100]

I think it has bee announced now so it doesn't have to be announced (or certainly is not brand new news) during Marius trial. The reality is they may expect her to quite suddenly need a transplant (and I suspect much of that will depend on if a viable new lung becomes available) and it is clear the next few months will be taken up with Marius' trial so if they don't announce now and, say in February the need to announce becomes clear then it looks more like a PR move. Clearly she has been undergoing tests and medical checks for a while now so the end of year interview likely seems a good time to announce the latest - especially if MM wants to be able to talk about it herself.

In terms of IA studying so far away, I can understand that. Personally I would find that quite hard if it was my mother but everyone is different and MM seems quite insistent not to hold her children back from anything because of her illness so I can see her encouraging her daughter to do as she wants and not let her mother's illness stop her. Certainly I know friends who have had family members very ill with a very high likelihood of things getting bad who still have gone away etc because at the end of the day, as sadly ironic as it is, when your life is limited and seems likely to be cut short you want others to live every day to the fullest and not just "wait about" for something to happen. It is very tough for sure to do the right thing.

 

[Halise]

Could it be that they wanted to be together as a family when this was announced or are they making sure they don't have to announce it while Marius' trial is taking place?

And that means she's definitely out of the public eye
She doesn't need it yet, but she's been feeling weak more often. I really don't think she'll change what we've seen this year, which is canceling her appearances at already announced events (Not the best work from the court and communications department).

In fact, I was going to mention, for example, her visit to the US at the beginning of the year, but I realized it was in 2024, not this year.

So it's the established routine

The reality is they may expect her to quite suddenly need a transplant

Well, that was the surgeon's update. He said that adding it to the list could be an option, but it's not quite there yet. Unlike previous years, "yes, we are controlling it with medication"

 

[doro]

I like Mette-Marit; she has always fulfilled her role as Crown Princess and didn't deserve to go through these dramas. May everything turn out for the best for her.

Admire me the question of her force of will, exercising her duties even with such disease

 

[Countessmeout]

And that means she's definitely out of the public eye
She doesn't need it yet, but she's been feeling weak more often. I really don't think she'll change what we've seen this year, which is canceling her appearances at already announced events (Not the best work from the court and communications department).

In fact, I was going to mention, for example, her visit to the US at the beginning of the year, but I realized it was in 2024, not this year.

So it's the established routine

There is really no other way to handle it. Unless she just retires until if her health ever improves.

The reality is they could wait a week ahead of an event to announce it on the schedule, and her health could change. So they schedule events that they believe she should be able to handle at the time, and if it happens it has to be cancelled, then it has to.

This is not an illness going any where. Or something like treatments or surgeries, they can schedule around. Its something that changes week to week or even day to day.

As for Ingrid Alexandra going to school away still, to me it makes sense. Both of her parents had the opportunity to study abroad. And studying out of Europe is certainly a different experience. Her mother having studied in Australia herself, may have inspired IA in her choice. Her mother's health failing even more, likely was just another push. The reality she is going to have to step up sooner then expected as the second in line, is hitting home more and more. This is likely her only chance for her to get the chance to do this.

 

[Alison H]

That's worrying news. I hope that she's able to have a transplant.

 

[JR76]

Here in Germany there is a famous singer Roland Kaiser who had a lung transplant and lives with already since 15 years. But he suffers from another illness then the Crown Princess.

I had NO idea that Der Kaiser has had a lung transplant! Him being as active as he is and having such a great voice shows how much you can bounce back after a successful transplant.

 

[maria-olivia]

She looks fine on the Chrismas Wishes of the Royal Court

 

[Tatiana Maria]

That's worrying news. I hope that she's able to have a transplant.

If I correctly understand this source: Of pulmonary fibrosis patients on Norway's lung transplant waiting list between 2009-2020, 22% died while waiting for a transplant (thus, 78% received one).

Among all lung transplant recipients, the median life expectancy after the transplant was 10 years.

2009 was when patients with rapidly progressing lung diseases began being prioritized over others on the waitlist, which dramatically improved their survival rate.

Lungetransplantasjon i Norge 1999–2020

27.09.2023: Originalartikkel - Median overlevelse etter lungetransplantasjon i perioden 1999–2020 var ti år.

tidsskriftet.no

Summary in English: Lung transplantation in Norway 1999-2020 - PubMed

 

[Annine]

Her doctor was asked if stress would make it worse and he answered:
«It is a physical illness. Stress has nothing to do with its progression.»

- Vi tar alltid den sykeste

Kronprinsesse Mette-Marit sin lungesykdom har forverret seg kraftig i høst. Nå svarer Rikshospitalet pressen.

www.dagbladet.no

 

[blooms_rulers]

She looks fine on the Chrismas Wishes of the Royal Court

It's a lung ailment. She's not going to look half-dead. This is not a visible ailment at the stage she's at.

 

[pkl]

For me it was never a "shock" the statement came now. Because this illness, as many here have read about, usually gets worse in some years. I know a person that had it for about the same time as Mette-Marit, then it suddently became worse and she died, because the lungs have to be a "perfect match".

 

[Lee-Z]

For me it was never a "shock" the statement came now. Because this illness, as many here have read about, usually gets worse in some years. I know a person that had it for about the same time as Mette-Marit, then it suddently became worse and she died, because the lungs have to be a "perfect match".

yes, recently saw a documentary on transplants, and especially with lung transplant, not only does the bloodtype have to match, but also approx the size and age of the donor needs to be similar to the receiver. And, different from for instance a kidney or liver transplant, i don't think a 'live' transplant is possible, meaning that a person has to pass away before the lung can be taken out, and the organ needs to be removed from the donor within two hours of their passing, otherwise the organ will have detiorated too much to use.
I don't know how organdonation is organized in Norway, but in the Netherlands a donor explicitely needs to state that they would donate one or more organs after passing...

People can be on the waitinglist for quite some time before a usable organ is available

 

[Princess_Eleanor]

Well, it obviously cannot be seen in a picture, but people who meet her might notice it, such as being out of breath.

As for Ingrid studying in Australia - back in August (I believe it was) Mette-Marit was still able to visit her in Sydney, so it probably seemed fine when she made the decision. Now the illness has worsened, but Ingrid has quite the long holidays from university at the moment, so she can spend time with her mother.

 

[Annine]

In December, between 50 and 80 people registered with a donor card via Helsenorge every day. However, that was before Crown Princess Mette-Marit on Friday 19 December was open about the fact that doctors have begun preparing her for a lung transplant. A sharp increase

Here are the figures NRK has received from the Norwegian Directorate of Health. They show the number of registered donor cards via Helsenorge.no last week: Thursday: 48 Friday: 58 Saturday: 930 Sunday: 462 Monday (today): 1112
….

In addition to registrations via Helsenorge, the Organ Donation Foundation has a donor card app. The number of downloads has increased tenfold since Friday, according to information manager Aleksander Sekowski.
…
The Director of Health: – It's fantastic – We have seen a tremendous increase, says Cathrine Marie Lofthus. – It's simply fantastic and very gratifying, says the Director of Health. She is surprised by the enormous response. – I didn't expect this. We have worked on many occasions to get people to register as organ donors, and the increase we have seen now is absolutely formidable.

Enorm økning i folk som vil bli donorer

Dagen etter at kronprinsesse Mette-Marit fortalte at legene forbereder henne på lungetransplantasjon, var det et kraftig hopp i antallet registrerte donorer.

www.nrk.no

 

[Tatiana Maria]

From 48 a day to 1112 a day?! What a fantastic side effect of the Royal House's openness on health matters.

The article also mentions that in 2024, 105 people who died (in Norway, presumably) had their organ(s) donated, according to the Organ Donation Foundation. I wonder how that figure will be affected starting in 2026.

 

[blooms_rulers]

Well, it obviously cannot be seen in a picture, but people who meet her might notice it, such as being out of breath.

In Året med Kongefamilien, I can clearly hear her having to take deep breaths mid-sentence and how she's taking breaths at unnatural places during phrases. She sounds like someone with a lung ailment of some sort (I say this as someone with personal experience who sounds similar and takes similar pauses when speaking when mine is acting up).