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.

“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.”

The future queen of Norway’s health has become progressively worse in recent months, and on Friday, June 5, the Royal House of Norway announced Crown Princess Mette-Marit has officially been placed on the waiting list for a lung transplant. Her daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, will be leaving the University of Sydney and studying closer to home as her mother fights pulmonary fibrosis, but Mette-Marit’s oldest son, Marius Borg Høiby, is currently in prison as he awaits the verdict of his high-profile rape case.

Høiby, 29, was born to Crown Princess Mette-Marit before she met her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, and he does not hold a royal title or carry out any official duties. When speaking to a judge about his mother on June 8, he stated, “Every Sunday when we meet in prison, I know that it could be the last time I see her,” per Nine.com.

Although Høiby was granted compassionate leave given the circumstances by the Oslo District Court, prosecutors appealed the decision. On Wednesday, it was concluded that Høiby must remain in prison due to his risk of reoffending, citing “a question of ability, life patterns and risk factors.”

“We are very, very disappointed and find the decision almost incomprehensible,” defense attorney Ellen Holager Andenæs told Norwegian broadcaster NRK.

In 2024, Crown Princess Mette-Marit's son was arrested three times in the course of a few months, and he is now facing 40 charges, including sexual assault, criminal damage, bodily harm, drug trafficking and violating a restraining order.

According to NRK, it’s unknown when a lung that’s a match for the crown princess will be available. In a press conference, Are Holm, senior consultant in the pulmonary department at Rikshospitalet, said Mette-Marit’s lung function tests have “dropped significantly in just the last three months,” calling the situation “dangerous.”

On May 26, Crown Prince Haakon told the press that his wife's condition was declining. “The Crown Princess is seriously ill, and I think she has gotten a bit worse lately,” he shared, adding, “So I am worried about her health.”

Crown Princess Mette-Marit will be getting some extra support from family as her pulmonary fibrosis continues to worsen. On Friday, May 29, the Norwegian royal family announced that Crown Prince Haakon would be cutting his official visit to Japan short by one day due to his wife’s “health situation.” And on June 1, the future king told reporters that his daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, will soon be leaving her university in Australia to be with her mother.

According to Norwegian media outlet NRK, the crown prince said in a press conference that Ingrid Alexandra “plans to come home soon, and it has to do with the family situation,” adding his daughter “wants to be with her mother.”

The princess, who is the heir to the Norwegian throne, is currently studying international relations and political economy at the University of Sydney. Haakon said that it’s unclear how long Ingrid Alexandra will be staying home in Norway, but she intends to complete her three-year bachelor’s degree in Australia.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, and her husband recently told members of the media that she's relying on a nasal cannula to help breathe during daily activities. “The Crown Princess is seriously ill, and I think she has gotten a bit worse lately,” he said, per NRK.

Crown Prince Haakon's mother, Queen Sonja, is also facing her own health issues after the royal family announced she'd been hospitalized for heart failure last week.

As for his own trip, Haakon, who was originally due to visit Japan from June 1 through 4, will be leaving for Norway after his royal engagements on Wednesday. He told reporters he’s “going home because the Crown Princess is ill,” adding, “I apologize to everyone I was supposed to visit on the last day.”

“Being on the other side of the world while your wife is seriously ill at home is demanding,” Crown Prince Haakon said. “I think it's incredibly nice to be in Japan. But at the same time, it's a long way from home.”

The future King also briefly addressed the news that a 63-year-old man has been charged with stalking Princess Ingrid Alexandra in Sydney and sending her a suspicious letter. “I have spoken to Ingrid, but I don't really like answering questions about security,” he said.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, and her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, issued an update on his wife’s health on May 26. Speaking to members of the media after presenting the Abel Prize mathematics award in Oslo, the future King said he’s “worried” about Mette-Marit’s worsening condition.

“The Crown Princess is seriously ill, and I think she has gotten a bit worse lately,” Crown Prince Haakon shared, adding, “So I am worried about her health.”

Pulmonary fibrosis is an incurable condition that results in scarred lung tissue and difficulty breathing. Mette-Marit wore a nasal cannula for the first time in public on April 10, and the crown prince said that she now relies on it daily. “She uses oxygen in her everyday life, and that helps a bit,” Crown Prince Haakon said.

Due to the disease, Mette-Marit has pulled back from her regular duties and is now making occasional appearances with the Norwegian royal family.

In December, the crown princess announced that she would need a lung transplant. Speaking of the surgery’s timing, Crown Prince Haakon said it was “up to the doctors” and “they’re the ones who decide when it should happen, when it’s right.” However, he added, “But I think she's gotten a lot worse lately, unfortunately.”

Speaking to Norwegian broadcaster NRK in their Year with the Royal Family program, Mette-Marit opened up about her worsening condition.

“I have always hoped that we would be able to keep the disease in check with medication, and the development has actually been quite slow up until now,” she said. “Whereas now the development has been faster than both I and the doctors had hoped for.”

The Norwegian Royal Family is hosting an official state visit from King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium this week, and both queens wore tiaras with fascinating stories behind them at a state dinner on March 24.

Queen Sonja of Norway dazzled in a pale pink pleated gown with a silver lace overlay, wearing a copy of a tiara that’s sadly disappeared. Queen Maud’s Pearl Tiara actually has ties to the British Royal Family, as it was given to Maud—the daughter of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra—by her parents when she married into the Danish royal family in 1896. Maud and her husband, Prince Carl, were then made the King and Queen of Norway in 1905.

After surviving World War II while being hidden in Windsor Castle, the tiara was given back to the Norwegian royals. But in a shocking twist of fate, Queen Maud’s tiara was stolen in a 1995 jewel heist while being cleaned at royal jewelers Garrard in London. The historic tiara was never found, and a copy of the diamond and pearl tiara was made instead, per the Royal Watcher blog.

As for Queen Mathilde, she also chose a piece with ties to a long-ago royal wedding. The Belgian queen wore The Nine Provinces Tiara, a stunning diamond diadem that dates back to Princess Astrid of Sweden’s 1926 wedding to the future King Leopold III of Belgium.

The diamond tiara is a clever convertible piece that can be worn as a simple bandeau style, with its full diamond topper, or as a necklace, and Mathilde wore the tiara in its full glory with a shimmering gold Armani Privé gown.

King Harald and Queen Sonja were joined by their son and heir, Crown Prince Haakon, at the banquet, but his wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, stayed home amid her worsening health issues. The royal family had announced that Mette-Marit, who suffers from pulmonary fibrosis, wouldn’t be taking part in the state visit. But earlier Tuesday she made a surprise appearance to welcome Queen Mathilde and King Philippe, wearing a black skirt suit and a red pillbox hat that nodded to the Belgian flag.

The crown princess gave a tearful interview about her friendship with Jeffrey Epstein to Norwegian broadcaster NRK last week, sharing that she took full “responsibility for not checking his background more carefully.”

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway has broken her silence on Jeffrey Epstein in a new TV interview. The future queen sat down with Norwegian broadcaster NRK to open up on her friendship with the late sex offender for the first time since her emails to Epstein were released in January—and during her tearful interview, Mette-Marit claimed she’d been “manipulated and deceived.”

The future queen, who is married to King Harald and Queen Sonja’s son, Crown Prince Haakon, exchanged dozens of friendly emails with Epstein that came to public attention earlier this year. She said it was “incredibly important” to her “to take responsibility for not checking his background more carefully.”

Mette-Marit added that it was also important “to take responsibility for being so manipulated and deceived as I was” in the interview. “Epstein was a close friend of a good friend of mine,” she added. “So I was introduced to him through mutual acquaintances—through several, actually. And they all worked in global health and organizational life. They were people I trusted and trusted their judgment.”

“It was a friendly relationship,” she explained. “He was a friend of a friend of mine, first and foremost. If your question was whether the relationship had a different character, the answer is no.”

Referencing what it meant when she emailed Epstein in 2011 with the comment, "Googled you after the previous email. Agreed, it didn't look good :)," the Crown Princess said she “can’t remember” what it meant.

However, she said, “But if I had found information that made me realize that he was an abuser and sex offender, I wouldn't have written a smiley face behind it.”

Referencing a visit to his Palm Beach home with friends, the princess admitted that Epstein made her feel uncomfortable and “behaved towards me in a way that I didn't like.” When pressed on the incident, she declined to share more, but said she was “gullible.”

“I like to believe the best about people,” she shared. “But I also chose to end contact with him, and it was because of episodes like that.”

The royal said that she hasn’t spoken publicly about Epstein until now because she’s been focusing on her son’s high-profile rape trial and her declining health in recent days. “We are a family that has been in a very demanding situation in recent weeks. For us, the focus has been primarily on the family,” she shared.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit gave birth to her first child, Marius Borg Høiby, before meeting Crown Prince Haakon. Høiby's headline-making trial ended this week after he was charged with 40 offenses, including four counts of rape.

“I am the mother of a young man who has been in a very demanding situation. In addition, I have health that requires a lot of rest,” she added, referring to her worsening pulmonary fibrosis that has put her in discussions for a lung transplant.

At the end of the day, Mette-Marit stated she’s full of regrets about her friendship with Epstein. “Of course, I wish I had never met him,” she said.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in October 2018, and since then, her condition has deteriorated to the degree she may need a lung transplant. With her son Marius Borg Høiby on trial for rape, among other charges, the future Queen is taking time away from her official duties.

Mette-Marit—whose friendship with Jeffrey Epstein was revealed in emails released earlier this year—has not carried out any official duties since January, and now the Norwegian royal family has issued an official statement regarding her absence. Guri Varpe, palace communications manager, told Norwegian outlet TV2 that the crown princess needs to be focused on her “rest and recovery.”

“As is known, the Crown Princess has the chronic disease pulmonary fibrosis,” the representative said. “As we communicated in December, there has been a clear negative development in the Crown Princess's health recently, and preparations have begun with a view to an assessment for a lung transplant.”

“The Crown Princess has an increasing need for tailored training, rest and recovery, and her official program is adapted to her health condition,” Varpe added.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic lung disease where lung tissue becomes thick and scarred, resulting in permanent damage to the lungs. The disease impairs oxygen transfer to the bloodstream and makes breathing more difficult.

Per TV2, Mette-Marit’s husband, Crown Prince Haakon, did not comment on his wife’s absence from public life when carrying out duties on recent occasions. Regarding Mette-Marit's connection with Epstein, Varpe released a statement in early March reading, "The Crown Princess herself wishes to tell about what happened and explain herself in more detail. The Crown Princess is in a very demanding situation. She hopes for understanding that she needs time."

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway is speaking out after numerous emails between her and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were released by the Department of Justice last week. A statement was shared on the Norwegian royal family’s website and social media accounts on Friday, February 6, with the royal household acknowledging the public’s shock surrounding the princess’s friendship with Epstein.

"We understand the strong reactions people have to what has emerged in recent days," the statement read. "The Crown Princess strongly disavows Epstein's abuse and criminal acts. She is very sorry for not having understood early enough what kind of person he was."

Crown Princess Mette-Marit added, "I would like to express my deepest regret for my friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. It is important for me to apologize to all of you that I have disappointed."

The future queen of Norway exchanged dozens of friendly messages with the late sex offender in 2011 and 2012, making comments about the "boring wedding" of the now-Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg and how Epstein was going "wife-hunting" in Europe. In October 2011, she wrote to Epstein: "Googled u after last email. Agree didn’t look too good."

In her statement on February 6, Mette-Marit wrote, "Some of the content of the messages between Epstein and me does not represent the person I want to be. I also apologize for the situation that I have put the Royal Family in, especially the King and Queen."

While the statement included quotes from the crown princess, it hinted that she may be speaking in a more direct way in the days to come. However, her eldest son, Marius Borg Høiby, is currently on trial for rape and a number of other charges, putting the royal "in a very demanding situation."

"The Crown Princess wants to tell about what happened and explain herself in more detail," the royal family wrote, adding, "She cannot do that now. The Crown Princess is in a very demanding situation."

"She hopes for understanding that she needs time to gather herself," the statement concluded.

Norway's royal family has been making headlines since Crown Princess Mette-Marit's son, Marius Borg Høiby, was first arrested in 2024, but on Monday, February 2, Høiby was jailed for new charges—just one day before his high-profile rape trial. The incident occurred after Mette-Marit's name was mentioned in a new batch of the Epstein files over the weekend, with friendly emails between the future Norwegian queen and Jeffrey Epstein included in the latest release of documents.

Per Norwegian media outlet NRK, Høiby was arrested late on Sunday, February 1 and charged with threats with a knife, breach of a restraining order and bodily harm. The 29-year-old has already been accused of more than 30 charges, including rape and drug trafficking, with his trial to begin February 3. He'll remain in prison for four weeks, according to NRK.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit's son, who was born before his mother met Crown Prince Haakon, does not hold a royal title or perform any duties, but his recent legal troubles have put a stain on the family's reputation. And with the future queen's name mentioned in more than 1,000 files involving Jeffrey Epstein, Norway's monarchy is facing its most serious crisis of all time.

An opinion piece in El Mundo America stated that "the Royal House of the wealthy Nordic country is facing its deepest crisis," adding that a recent survey in Norway "indicated that only 30% of citizens believe she can be a good queen consort."

Mette-Marit sent numerous emails to the late sex offender, exchanging book reviews, teeth whitening recommendations and complaints about the "boring" wedding of Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stephanie of Luxembourg.

"Jeffrey Epstein is responsible for his actions. I must take responsibility for not checking Epstein's background better and for not understanding quickly enough what kind of person he was," the princess said in a statement shared with the media on Saturday, January 31.

"I deeply regret that, and this is a responsibility I must take. I showed poor judgment, and I regret ever having any contact with Epstein. It is simply embarrassing," she continued.

Now, Norwegian media outlet VG has reported that Crown Princess Mette-Marit has been dropped as patron of the Skamløsprisen or Shameless Award, a prize for those who "have encouraged courage and openness about shameful areas within sexuality."

The Sex and Society foundation confirmed to VG that it "held an emergency meeting on Monday regarding the Crown Princess's patronage" and deemed it was no longer appropriate for her to hold the title.

The media outlet reported that other organizations are reviewing Mette-Marit's patronage and determining next steps but it's "too early" to make a decision.

The release of another batch of Epstein files has seemingly implicated a plethora of high-profile and famous people all over the world. For instance, Sarah Ferguson and her ex-husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, are both facing further allegations regarding their connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Now, Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit has apologized for her own association with the disgraced financier.

In a statement to Norwegian broadcaster NRK (via Hello! magazine), Mette-Marit explained, "Jeffrey Epstein is responsible for his actions. I must take responsibility for not checking Epstein's background better and for not understanding quickly enough what kind of person he was." She continued, "I deeply regret that, and this is a responsibility I must take. I showed poor judgment and regret ever having any contact with Epstein. It is simply embarrassing."

Emails between Epstein and Mette-Marit were included in the Department of Justice's latest release of files. In an email dated October 21, 2012, the Norwegian princess referred to a recent royal wedding, allegedly telling Epstein (via Hello! magazine), "Boring wedding. Was like some kind of old movie. Where you know the characters are not hanging around for much long[er]."

The suggestion that Mette-Marit didn't have any knowledge of Epstein's criminal background was also brought into question by the content of some of her alleged emails. For instance, in October 2011, Mette-Marit seemingly emailed Epstein saying, "Googled u after last email. Agree didn't look too good."

A year later, Epstein told the princess that he was embarking on a "wife-hunting" expedition to France, while reportedly joking that he preferred "Scandinavians," via the Times. Mette-Marit apparently responded by saying, "Paris good for adultery. Scandis better wife material."

Editor’s Note: This piece contains references to sexual assault, which may be distressing to some readers. If you or someone you know has been affected, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673 or visit rainn.org for confidential support.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway's eldest son, Marius Borg Høiby, has now been charged with six new allegations, including drug trafficking, ahead of his high-profile rape trial in Oslo.

Høiby, 29, was born to the future Norwegian queen before she met her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, and does not hold a royal title. In 2024, Mette-Marit's son was arrested three times and faced accusations of sexual assault, criminal damage, bodily harm, and violating a restraining order. He was eventually charged with 32 offenses in August 2025, including four counts of rape.

But just six days ahead of his trial, which begins February 3, Høiby has now been accused of drug trafficking, two occasions of violating a restraining order and three traffic-related violations. An opinion piece in Norwegian media outlet Se og Hør noted that the trial "is not just a court case" but "the most serious strain the Crown Prince family—and the royal family—has ever faced. "

Per Se og Hør, Crown Prince Haakon's "chin trembled" and "his voice was shaky" as he spoke to members of the press about his stepson's case.

"Of course, we are thinking a lot about all those affected by the case," the future King of Norway said. "This is something that affects them, their families, those who love them. We have concern for them." Addressing his stepson's alleged victims, Crown Prince Haakon added, "I know many of you are having a hard time right now."

The crown prince confirmed that the royal family will not be present during the trial, explaining, "We will follow the case as best we can through the media, and will follow up on Marius during the period."

The royal couple will continue with their duties during the trial, which could last up to six weeks. Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who is facing serious complications due to pulmonary fibrosis, will also go away on a private trip as the proceedings continue.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, and on Friday, December 19, the Norwegian royal issued an update on her chronic lung disease. As she revealed to Norwegian media outlet NRK, the future queen of Norway will need to undergo a lung transplant due to the recent developments in her health.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a disease in which scar tissue builds up in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe and get enough oxygen. Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who is married to the country's future king, Crown Prince Haakon, told NRK that she's spent the past six months "taking new tests, and then we have had a number of conversations this fall about lung transplantation."

"That is what is new, that we are starting to approach that step," she shared in the broadcaster's Year with the Royal Family program at their home in Skaugum. "It has been…It has been a long process to get there for me mentally," the crown princess admitted.

Mette-Marit, who shares daughter Princess Ingrid Alexandra and son Prince Sverre Magnus with Crown Prince Haakon, revealed that her pulmonary fibrosis has progressed "faster" than anticipated.

"I have always hoped that we would be able to keep the disease in check with medication, and the development has actually been quite slow up until now. Whereas now the development has been faster than both I and the doctors had hoped for," the future queen shared.

Crown Prince Haakon also noted the difference in his wife's health, sharing, "We have seen that she is struggling more to breathe."

The crown princess said that it was tough both for herself and her family to make the decision to move forward, sharing, "Just thinking about the idea that this is the next step is quite demanding, because it is an operation with a lot of risk associated with it."

The timeline for her operation has not been set, but in a palace statement, Professor Are Martin Holm of Oslo University Hospital's pulmonary unit said, "We are approaching the time when a lung transplant must be performed, and we are making the necessary preparations so that it will be possible when that time comes."

Princess Ingrid Alexandra, the 21-year-old future Queen of Norway, just wants to be a normal college student. "I feel free as a student, I definitely feel that I can be myself," she told Norwegian public broadcaster NRK. When she introduces herself to fellow students, she just goes by “Ingrid,” and uses “Alexandra” if she needs to use a last name.

She might be nearly 10,000 miles from the Royal Palace in Oslo, but Princess Ingrid is staying close to her family back home. It seems even royal grandparents can be technophobic. Her grandmother, Norway’s Queen Sonja, is “very good at sending long messages on behalf of both her and Grandpa [King Harald].” Unfortunately, her “grandpa”—Norway’s 88-year-old King Harald V— is not so savvy: “He helps send, but he’s not good at writing long messages” the princess said. “He’s not that digital.”

“I try to keep in good contact with [my mom], we often talk on the phone," she shared. "It's difficult. Mom has had a chronic illness for a long time.” In 2018, Crown Princess Mette-Marit revealed that she suffers from chronic pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable disease that affects lung tissue. Princess Ingrid Alexandra told the news outlet, “it's hard to be far away. And I'm proud of my mother who has an incredibly strong will to stand up now."

Crown Princess Mette-Marit has remained very private about her medical condition, sharing details only when related to her official royal duties. In 2023, her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, shared in his official autobiography that “she will never be cured.” Speaking of the regular changes to her royal diary due to her health, he said, “she has many good days. But the uncertainty is always there.”

Despite the distance, Princess Ingrid Alexandra chose to study in Australia with her mother’s support, saying “I think she wants to treat me to being a student and being here to study. I know that.” The princess said she didn’t choose Australia because of its distance from Norway, and would prefer skiing in Norway over surfing in Australia anyday. Despite this, she knows that Sydney “was the right choice for me. They have an incredibly good university with good teachers and a nice student environment.”

The future Queen of Norway said, “I’m here for three years. I’m enjoying it incredibly well—it’s a beautiful city, and there’s a lot to discover.”

Norway's royal family has been in the headlines since last summer after Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, was arrested three times and accused of a series of shocking sexual assaults. On Friday, June 27, the future queen's son was officially charged by Oslo police on multiple counts of rape, bodily harm and sexual assault—and the victims rank in the "double-digit" number.

Høiby, 28, was born to Crown Princess Mette-Marit—who was a single mother before she met Crown Prince Haakon—and as the stepson to the future king, holds no royal title. Following a months-long investigation, police held a press conference announcing 23 charges against Høiby, including one case of rape with intercourse, two cases of rape without intercourse, one case of abuse in close relationships and two cases of bodily harm.

The royal family issued a statement to Norwegian media outlet NRK reading, "The case is taking its course in the legal system, and follows normal procedures. We have nothing more to add."

Per NRK, police stated that the royal family was not brought forward for questioning during the investigation. "The reason we have not questioned other members of the royal family than Høiby is that it is our assessment that their possible explanations would contribute very little to clarifying the cases," police attorney Andreas Kruszewski told the outlet.

In November 2024, Høiby was arrested on suspicion of rape after two prior arrests involving his ex-girlfriend. In August, he was accused of criminal damage and bodily harm at the woman's Oslo apartment, and in September, he was arrested for violating a restraining order against his ex. In February 2025, additional rape accusations were reported involving model and TV presenter Linni Meister.

However, per the Guardian, Kruszewski said there were many more women involved. "I cannot go into further detail about the number of victims in the case beyond confirming that it is a double-digit number,” the police attorney said during Friday's press conference. According to NRK, "Høiby's defense attorney, Ellen Holager Andenæs, states that there are between 15 and 20 victims."

Høiby is the eldest of Crown Princess Mette-Marit's three children. He has a 21-year-old stepsister, Princess Ingrid Alexandra—who will go on to become Norway's queen one day—and a 19-year-old stepbrother, Prince Sverre Magnus, both of whom were born to the princess and Crown Prince Haakon after their 2001 marriage.

The Norwegian royal family has been through its fair share of health emergencies and headline-making legal worries over the past year, and on Monday, April 21, the royal house of Norway announced that Queen Sonja was rushed to an Oslo hospital. The 87-year-old queen was spending time with husband King Harald at the royal chalet in Sikkilsalen, Norway, over the holiday when she experienced "shortness of breath" that caused her to be air lifted to Oslo for observation.

The Norwegian royal family released a statement on Monday night stating, "Her Majesty the Queen was admitted to the National Hospital this evening for examinations due to shortness of breath. The Queen was transported by air ambulance from the Prince's Cabin in Sikkilsdalen, where the Royal Couple spent the Easter holiday."

On April 22, the family issued an update stating that Queen Sonja was discharged from the hospital. "Investigations show that the situation has normalized," the statement read. "The Queen is on sick leave for the rest of the week."

This isn't the first health scare Queen Sonja has experienced this year. In January, Queen Sonja was hospitalized "after experiencing an episode linked to her existing heart condition, atrial fibrillation, while on a ski trip," according to Hello! magazine. She had a pacemaker fitted on Jan. 16 during a procedure at Rikshospitalet in Oslo.

King Harald, who at 88, is the oldest reigning monarch in Europe, has also suffered from recent health problems. The Norwegian king was hospitalized with an infection during a vacation to Malaysia last year, forcing his son, Crown Prince Haakon, to act as regent. King Harald was later fitted with a pacemaker.

Queen Sonja's hospitalization follows some concerning news regarding Crown Princess Haakon's wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit. In March, the Norwegian royal household announced that the future queen's pulmonary fibrosis had worsened and she now faces "daily symptoms and ailments."

Mette-Marit, 50, was diagnosed with the serious lung disease in 2018, and suffers from increased symptoms that are impacting her ability to carry out royal duties. "This means that changes to her official schedule may occur more frequently and at shorter notice than we are used to," a statement read.

When it comes to future European monarchs, the future is female—and Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway is one of the young women leading the way. The 21-year-old daughter of the country's future king, Crown Prince Haakon, and his wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, is set to inherit the throne one day. While there have been several female monarchs in recent history—like Queen Elizabeth II, who reigned for 70 years, or Queen Margrethe of Denmark, who recently abdicated the throne to her son King Frederik—it turns out Norway is a different story.

Princess Ingrid Alexandra will become the first reigning queen of Norway in 600 years if she takes over the throne from her father as planned. Queen Margaret I was the first—and last—queen regnant of the country, ruling from 1388 to 1412, and also served as queen of Denmark and Sweden.

Norway's current king is Ingrid Alexandra's grandfather, King Harald, who follows a long line of male rulers for the Scandinavian country. She has one brother, Prince Sverre Magnus, 19, and a controversial half-brother, Marius Borg Høiby, 28. Borg Høiby, who was born to Crown Princess Mette-Marit before she met her royal husband, has experienced a series of legal troubles over the past year and was arrested on suspicion of rape in November.

The future queen is having a busy April. At the beginning of the month, she finished 15 months of military training, graduating from her service in the Engineer's Battalion of Brigade Nord of the Norwegian Army.

And on April 8, she joined her family for her first official state visit, attending both a formal welcome event and a state banquet in honor of Iceland's president Halla Tómasdóttir and her husband, Björn Skúlason.

At the glamorous evening event, Princess Ingrid Alexandra showed off a historic diamond tiara and one of her mom's old evening gowns. She borrowed the blue dress Crown Princess Mette-Marit wore to Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden's royal wedding, pairing it with the Boucheron Pearl Circle tiara, a 125-year-old piece she received for her 18th birthday.

As for the 21-year-old royal's future plans, the palace hasn't yet announced whether Ingrid Alexandra will be attending college, starting a job or stepping right into full-time royal duties. Either way, she joins a group of women set to take over Europe; Sweden, Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands all currently have princesses set to take the crown one day

Princess Ingrid Alexandra celebrated her 21st birthday earlier this year, and now she's marked two other huge milestones. The princess, who is set to become Norway's future queen one day, officially completed her compulsory military training earlier this month, and on April 8, she took part in her first state visit. For the occasion, the military graduate swapped her uniform for a sparkling tiara—and while her jewels were more than a century old, her gown was also a familiar piece.

The princess joined her parents Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon for a state banquet held in honor of Iceland's president Halla Tómasdottir and her husband Björn Skúlason. Ingrid Alexandra looked stunning in a pale blue evening dress featuring asymmetrical tiered ruffles, pairing the gown with the Boucheron Pearl Circle tiara.

If the dress looks familiar, it's because Ingrid Alexandra's mother wore the same pale blue gown to Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden's 2010 wedding. In a sweet full circle moment, Princess Ingrid Alexandra—who was a flower girl in Victoria and Daniel's royal wedding—posed with her mother for photos when Mette-Marit wore the tiered dress.

Princess Ingrid Alexandra received her glittering tiara as an 18th birthday present in 2022, and according to The Court Jeweller, it "was likely purchased by Prince Carl of Sweden from Boucheron" after the luxury jeweler showed the piece at the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris. The tiara was then passed down through the Swedish and Norwegian royal families, and most recently was owned by King Harald of Norway's sister, Princess Ragnhild, who lived in Brazil until her 2012 death.

While it's unknown how the design—which features overlapping diamond circles with pearl accents—came into Ingrid Alexandra's possession, it once belonged to her great-great-grandmother Princess Ingeborg. Princess Ingrid Alexandra wore the historic tiara for her official 18th birthday portraits as well as to her lavish birthday party, which was attended by three other future European queens.

As for her military service, Private Alexandra told reporters (via Royal Central), “It will be very nice [to graduate] in one way, but also very sad, because there are many people I have gotten to know well and have grown to love very much."

Norway's future queen, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has experienced a difficult year after her eldest son, Marius Borg Høiby, was faced with numerous sexual assault accusations. But the crown princess is also navigating a difficult path with her health, and her chronic lung condition has continued to worsen, according to a recent statement from the Norwegian royal household.

The 50-year-old princess, who was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, is experiencing increased symptoms that are affecting her ability to fulfill all of her royal duties. Pulmonary fibrosis, a serious condition that causes scarring of the lung tissue, makes breathing progressively more difficult over time. The royal palace has confirmed that the Crown Princess now faces "daily symptoms and ailments" that require more flexibility in her schedule than ever before.

"Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit's chronic disease pulmonary fibrosis has progressed," the statement read. "The Crown Princess has daily symptoms and ailments that affect her ability to perform her duties. This means that changes to her official schedule may occur more frequently and at shorter notice than we are used to."

Despite these challenges, Mette-Marit remains determined to serve her country. "The Crown Princess has a strong desire to continue working, and therefore we will organize her official program in the future in the best possible way so that her health and work can be combined," the palace continued.

When her condition was first made public, Mette-Marit acknowledged that her "working capacity will vary" due to the unpredictable nature of the disease. She and Crown Prince Haakon made the decision to share her diagnosis with the Norwegian people to explain future absences that would be necessary for treatment.

The Crown Princess, who married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001, has long been admired for her candor about personal challenges. The mother of three—who did not come from an aristocratic background and is a former waitress—faced plenty of public scrutiny as she was a single mother when she met the future King.

However, the Norwegian public grew to admire Mette-Marit over the years. Ole-Jørgen Schulsrud-Hansen, a royal commentator for Norway's TV2, told Marie Claire last fall that even though her son's legal issues were making headlines, he did "not think that this will weaken the prospects of the crown princess as a future queen."

"The public seems to have a deal of sympathy for the crown princess at this time," the royal expert added.

The Norwegian royal family experienced a tumultuous 2024, to say the least. At one point, Princess Märtha Louise marrying a Hollywood shaman with a controversial past seemed like the most dramatic thing that could happen. However, a member of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit's family faced multiple serious legal accusations. Now it's been reported that Mette-Marit's son, Marius Borg Høiby, is accused of sexually assaulting a model and TV presenter—and the incident allegedly happened while the royal family slept upstairs.

Borg Høiby—who was born to Mette-Marit before she met the future king—was arrested three times between August and November 2024 for a string of incidents including assault and suspicion of rape. Norwegian media outlet Se og hor reported that new details have emerged during the future queen's son's investigation, and Linni Meister, 39, has been identified as another victim.

Per the media outlet, Meister, who was a good friend of Borg Høiby, attended a wild party in the basement of Skaugum Castle in 2018. She was recently brought forward for questioning by police, with the TV personality seemingly under the impression that she was being asked as a character witness and would "simply contribute her positive experiences of him."

However, "investigators presented shocking evidence that allegedly showed that Linni herself was the victim of an assault committed by Marius"—information that, according to the magazine's sources, left her "completely stunned."

Per Se og hor, Meister "remembered nothing from that evening that was anything but reminiscent of an assault" and "remembered the evening as a pleasant gathering."

Sources claim that Meister previously thought of the princess's son as a "nice and polite guy" and "told her friends that she had difficulty understanding the violent accusations" that Borg Høiby had been faced with last year, according to the media outlet.

In November, Borg Høiby—who holds no royal title—was arrested on suspicion of rape for a separate incident, and in the summer, he was arrested on charges of criminal damage and bodily harm at his girlfriend's apartment. He was then arrested again in September for violating a restraining order after contacting the woman using a hidden phone number.

The crown prince and his wife have yet to address the allegations surrounding Meister, but in December, Mette-Marit told NRK (via the Daily Mail), "If I had to choose one word for this year, it would be 'challenging.' It has been a demanding year and a demanding autumn for us."

Last fall, Ole-Jørgen Schulsrud-Hansen, a royal commentator for Norway's TV2, spoke to Marie Claire about the various "scandals" surrounding the country's royal family. "According to surveys, the Norwegian public has voiced a diminishing trust in the monarchy due to the scandals and controversies that have rocked the institution the past year," the journalist shared.

However, he pointed out that Norway still supports the Crown Prince couple and does "not think that this will weaken the prospects of the crown princess as a future queen."

"The public seems to have a deal of sympathy for the crown princess at this time," he added.

Norway's future queen, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, celebrated her 21st birthday on Tuesday, Jan. 21, and the Norwegian royal family—which has been experiencing quite a turbulent time in recent months—released some laid-back photos to mark the occasion.

"Happy birthday, Princess Ingrid Alexandra! 🥳 The princess, who is currently serving in the Armed Forces, turns 21 years old✨" the royal family's official Instagram account posted. Along with the birthday message, the palace released five casual snapshots of the princess to celebrate her milestone birthday.

The first photo featured the royal dressed in full camouflage gear—including a name tag reading "Alexandra"— and a blue beret featuring a crown emblem. Military service is compulsory for both men and women in Norway, and that doesn't exclude members of its royal family. Princess Ingrid Alexandra is currently carrying out her military duty at Skjold Camp in Troms, Norway, and will complete her service in April following 15 months of training.

Other shots of the princess included one of her relaxing on a boat with a towel covering her legs, a somewhat blurry snap of the royal covered in face paint and holding a toothbrush in the woods, and a snowy photo of Ingrid Alexandra bundled up with ski goggles. The last pic in the carousel was a more dressed-up one featuring the princess linking arms with her brother, Prince Sverre Magnus, while dressed in green eveningwear for their aunt Martha Louise's wedding last year.

Last year, the princess—whose parents Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit are next in line for the throne—told the media (via Hello!), that she's "been challenged many times" while carrying out her military service. "I think the most important thing I have learned is that you can do much more than you think, and you are much stronger together," she said. "Whether it is in a team or in a squad or company, you can achieve much more when you are not alone."

The celebratory post follows a tough year for the Norwegian royals. Princess Ingrid Alexandra's half-brother, Marius Borg Høiby, was arrested three times in 2024, including one arrest on suspicion of rape.

“If I had to choose one word for this year, it would be ‘challenging,"" Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who was a single mother when she met her royal husband, shared with NRK (via the Daily Mail). "It has been a demanding year and a demanding autumn for us."

Norway's TV2 commentator Ole-Jørgen Schulsrud-Hansen previously told Marie Claire that "according to surveys, the Norwegian public has voiced a diminishing trust in the monarchy due to the scandals and controversies that have rocked the institution the past year."

However, those feelings don't seem to extend to Princess Ingrid-Alexandra's mother. "The public seems to have a deal of sympathy for the Crown Princess at this time," the royal journalist explained.

Norway's royal family has endured a tumultuous 2024, to say the least. The country's future queen, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, saw her son arrested on suspicion of rape after two other high-profile arrests, and King Harald and Queen Sonia's daughter, Princess Märtha Louise, married a Hollywood shaman known for his controversial views. As the drama surrounding the Norwegian royals continues to dominate the media, one expert is offering insight into the public's true sentiments.

Ole-Jørgen Schulsrud-Hansen, a royal commentator for Norway's TV2, tells Marie Claire that while this year's news has made an impact on the Norwegian people, it's not necessarily a crisis-level response. "According to surveys, the Norwegian public has voiced a diminishing trust in the monarchy due to the scandals and controversies that have rocked the institution the past year," he shares.

However, Schulsrud-Hansen points out that "it is not evident that a lack of trust in the monarchy has resulted in revitalized support for the republic," noting that a recent survey by Norwegian state broadcaster NRK revealed an "overwhelmingly positive" view of how the royals have carried out their official duties.

In August, Crown Princess Mette-Marit's 27-year-old son, Marius Borg Høiby—who was born to the future queen from a previous partner before she met Crown Prince Haakon—was arrested after he was accused of assaulting his then-girlfriend. In September, the princess's son was arrested a second time for reportedly breaking a restraining order the woman held against him, and on Nov. 18, he was arrested yet again, this time on suspicion of rape.

Borg Høiby was later accused of two other separate sex crimes, per Norwegian outlet Se og Hør. The future Norwegian king's stepson does not carry out royal duties, much like Queen Camilla's children, and holds no royal title.

Schulsrud-Hansen, who hosts the Undersåttene royal podcast, tells Marie Claire that despite Mette-Marit's son's legal troubles, he does "not think that this will weaken the prospects of the crown princess as a future queen."

"The public seems to have a deal of sympathy for the crown princess at this time," he adds.

Crown Prince Haakon spoke out when his stepson was arrested last month, telling NRK, "There are serious charges that Marius is now facing. Today, of course, we are thinking of all those affected." A day later he told the broadcaster, "We as a family and as parents have, of course, been very concerned that Marius should get help."

When asked if he thinks the royals are handling the situation well from a public relations perspective, Schulsrud-Hansen says he feels "that the silence of the royal family is a display of how serious they perceive the situation," with there "being a police investigation and probably a court case in the future."

"The Høiby case has evolved into the extreme from what it was when he was first arrested in August, and a comment from the royal family at that time could have done more bad than good," he adds. The broadcaster tells Marie Claire that King Harald and Queen Sonia have not spoken out on the recent controversies, other than a comment the monarch made in a recent speech.

"The only thing King Harald has stated on the matter with Høiby was in a speech during the parliament's dinner at the palace in late October," Schulsrud-Hansen says. "The King said that when one in the family struggles, it impacts the whole family."

As for Princess Märtha Louise and her shaman husband, Durek Verrett, their 2024 wedding had an interesting impact on the public. "In early September a survey stated that the Norwegian public thought the wedding of the couple was more damaging to the monarchy than the Høiby case, but that seems to have changed since then," the Norwegian royal reporter reveals.

Of course, this was before Borg Høiby's rape accusations, and it seems that those stories have largely pushed Märtha Louise out of the spotlight. "The controversies around Princess Märtha Louise and her husband have almost completely disappeared from the Norwegian media," Schulsrud-Hansen shares.

As the royal scandals in Norway continue to captivate the public, only time will tell whether they make a lasting impact on the monarchy's reputation.

Norway's future king and queen, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon, are dealing with yet another controversy surrounding Mette-Marit's son after Marius Borg Høiby was arrested yet again on Monday, Nov. 18.

Borg Høiby, 27—who is the princess's son from a prior partner and holds no royal title—was arrested on suspicion of rape late Monday night. Per Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten, he was accused of committing a sexual act without intercourse and police "have searched and seized Marius Borg Høiby's residence in Skaugum."

The woman in question, who is in her twenties, "does not want to date the episode, nor say where it happened", according to the paper.

Defense attorney Øyvind Bratlien told Aftenposten, "Høiby does not admit criminal guilt after the extended charge. He cooperates well with the police and wants to explain himself."

Crown Prince Haakon, who is carrying out royal business in Jamaica for the United Nations, gave a statement to Norwegian media outlet NRK on Nov. 19, stating, "There are serious charges that Marius is now facing. Today, of course, we are thinking of all those affected."

The future king—who said the royals were not notified of the arrest ahead of time—added, "I would have liked to be at home with Mette today. I miss her."

Crown Princess Mette-Marit was a single mom to Borg Høiby when she met the crown prince, and the royal couple went on to welcome two children together, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 20—who will become Norway's queen one day—and Prince Sverre Magnus, 18.

As for Marius, his case gets more complicated because at the time of his arrest, the crown princess's son was driving with a woman who has a restraining order against him, per Aftenposten.

In early August, Borg Høiby was arrested on charges of criminal damage and bodily harm at his girlfriend's apartment in Oslo, Norway, with the woman suffering a concussion after the incident. And in September, he was arrested for violating a restraining order after contacting her using a hidden phone number.

At the time of the incident, Marius told NRK (via Hello!) he suffered from "several mental disorders" and a substance abuse problem.

"Last weekend something happened that should never have happened," the future king's stepson said. "I committed bodily harm and destroyed objects in an apartment in the intoxication of alcohol and cocaine after an argument."

Aftenposten reports that after Monday's arrest, the woman's attorney said, "My client was in the car with Høiby last night because she was going to borrow his car. There were purely practical reasons why she was there. I am not aware of whether this is being investigated as a breach of a restraining order."

Commoners marrying into a royal family is nothing new (looking at you, Kate Middleton), but the story of Norway's future queen, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, is a particularly interesting one. Amid the intensifying drama with her son Marius Borg Høiby, we're taking a look back at how this single mother went from waiting tables to wearing tiaras.

Born Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby, the woman who'd go on to become Norway's future queen had an unconventional background. Her father was a convicted felon who later married an exotic dancer after divorcing Mette-Marit's mom, and the princess went on to date not one, but two felons herself.

One of them was Morten Borg, the father of her son, Marius, and her association with him caused a scandal when Mette-Marit got engaged to her future husband, Crown Prince Haakon. She met the prince at a Norwegian music festival, and they announced their engagement in December 2000.

The now-royal admitted that she frequented wild parties and raves in her youth, per a pre-wedding interview (via the Associated Press), but "assured Norwegians that she condemned drugs and was ready for sober palace life."

Despite her confession, a single mom who used to be a waitress marrying into a royal family wasn't well-received at the time. In fact, one headline from the Independent after their 2001 royal wedding proclaimed, "Norwegian prince marries commoner-than-most bride."

The article went hard on Mette-Marit, claiming that her "tearful account" didn't change "the general view that she is totally unsuited to her designated role as Queen of Norway." The fact that Haakon and his bride lived together before marriage was also seen as a no-no in the eyes of the public and the Lutheran Church of Norway.

However, nearly 25 years later, public opinion of the future Norwegian queen has softened. The stylish mom of three—who welcomed Princess Ingrid Alexandra (another future queen) in 2004 and Prince Sverre Magnus in 2005 with Crown Prince Haakon—is dedicated to numerous charitable causes.

While she supports many organizations in the areas of mental health, social inclusion and entrepreneurship, per the Norwegian royal family's website, she serves as patron of the Norwegian Red Cross and is deeply involved in HIV/AIDS-related initiatives.

In terms of her own health, Mette-Marit was diagnosed with a serious lung disease called pulmonary fibrosis in 2018. The condition forced her to take a leave of absence from royal duties in October 2024, per a palace statement.

While she frequently makes appearances with Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, the crown princess's eldest child, Marius Borg Høiby, rarely joins his royal stepfamily. The 27-year-old was arrested on charges of alleged domestic violence in August 2024, and Mette-Marit will likely be brought forward for questioning in the case, per Norwegian publication Aftenposten.

Borg Høiby was also recently banned from accessing his mother and stepfather's home after throwing an out-of-control party that resulted in a burglary. Needless to say, the keys have been taken away.

As first in line to the Norwegian throne, Crown Prince Haakon will become king when his father, King Harald, dies, making Mette-Marit queen.

The British Royal Family might have a reputation for family turmoil over the years, but the Norwegians seem to be giving them a run for their money in 2024. King Harald's daughter, Princess Märtha Louise, made plenty of headlines for marrying a Hollywood shaman and stepping back from royal duties in September. But Märtha Louise's brother, Crown Prince Haakon and his stylish wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit—the future king and queen of Norway—are dealing with both an arrest and a burglary incident with the princess's son from a previous relationship.

Marius Borg Høiby was born to Mette-Marit and convicted felon Morten Borg in 1997, and the circumstances of Borg Høiby's birth caused a scandal when the single mom later became involved with Norway's future king.

Over the years, Crown Princess Mette-Marit became a beloved member of the royal family, going on to welcome daughter Princess Ingrid Alexandra (who will one day become queen), and son Prince Sverre Magnus. Borg Høiby doesn't often join his mother and stepfamily for official events, and after his recent legal issues, these appearances might become even rarer.

The 27-year-old was arrested in August for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend, per the Independent, and "could be jailed for up to a year as he faces charges of bodily harm and criminal damage." He was arrested for a second time in September after reportedly breaking a restraining order, and the Crown Princess has now been summoned for questioning in the case, per Norwegian publication Aftenposten.

But Borg Høiby's troubles continue, and according to Aftenposten, he's now been blocked from accessing his mother and stepfather's home. Mette-Marit's son—who lives in a separate house on the royal couple's private property "at the edge of the forest"—reportedly hosted an out-of-control party that was raided by a motorcycle gang and resulted in a burglary, per Se og Hør.

The Norwegian outlet reported that "valuables with both high crown and affection value for the crown prince's family" were taken during the party, and in a video the publication obtained, a "person rides around singing on a Segway" through the royal home. Borg Høiby was also seen "driving rough and denting a car on the Skaugum estate."

As for the Crown Princess—who suffers from a serious lung disease called pulmonary fibrosis—she's been placed on medical leave amid her son's legal issues. The palace announced that she'd be taking a break from royal duties, with the statement reading, "Previous experience has shown that the medicines can lead to side effects that can have consequences for the Crown Princess' official programme."