Queen Sonja of Norway Shares "Fantastic" News About Ailing Daughter-in-Law Crown Princess Mette-Marit

The future queen is expected to remain hospitalized "for several weeks to come" following a lung transplant.

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A split image featuring a headshot of Queen Sonja in a navy jacket and Crown Princess Mette-Marit in a red hat
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s health has become increasingly worse in recent months as she continues to struggle with pulmonary fibrosis, and Queen Sonja has now opened up about her daughter-in-law’s life-saving lung transplant. The royal house announced that the crown princess’s medical team had successfully completed the surgery on June 17, and Queen Sonja was asked to comment on the news while visiting the Norwegian city of Kristiansand.

Speaking to the Fædrelandsvennen newspaper, the queen gave a brief statement, stating, “It's simply fantastic. It's fantastic that it went so well.”

The crown princess was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis—a condition that causes scarring in the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe—in 2018. She is expected to remain hospitalized for the next few weeks as she recovers from the transplant, according to Are Holm, professor of medicine at University of Oslo and senior consultant and respiratory specialist at Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet.

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Crown Princess Mette Marit of Norway and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway attend the Norwegian Constitution Day

Crown Princess Mette-Marit, pictured with husband Crown Prince Haakon, wears a nasal cannula during Norwegian Constitution Day in May.

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Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon posing with Queen Mathilde, King Philippe, King Harald and Queen Sonja

Mette-Marit joined Crown Prince Haakon (second from left) and in-laws King Harald and Queen Sonja (far right) for a rare appearance when Queen Mathilde and King Philippe of Belgium visited Norway in March.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

“We are delighted that everything has progressed well so far,” Holm said in a statement. “In accordance with standard practice for all recent transplant recipients, Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess will remain admitted to Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet for several weeks to come.”

Holm added that her long hospitalization is necessary “to adjust medication, manage any potential complications, and undertake rehabilitation.”

The procedure took place just 12 days after it was announced that Mette-Marit was on the list for a lung transplant. According to Norwegian broadcaster NRK, Holm “denied that she would receive 'royal special treatment' and go to the front of the queue.”

Kristin Contino
Kristin Contino
Senior Royal and Celebrity Editor

Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.

Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central. Kristin has provided expert commentary for outlets including the BBC, Sky News, US Weekly, the Today Show and many others.

Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.” She's passionate about travel, history, horses, and learning everything she can about her favorite city in the world, London.