Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway has announced that she will not be able to receive the Belgian royal family in Oslo next week due to her deteriorating health. The princess suffers from lung fibrosis, a condition that has worsened since she received news of her declining health last year. Medical experts are currently considering the possibility of a lung transplant as a potential future intervention for her condition.

The Norwegian royal palace confirmed the news, commenting on the princess’s absence from the state visit program. Guri Varpe, the palace’s communications chief, stated that the princess's health status has indeed worsened, which has led to her removal from the scheduled events. This has raised concerns within the royal household as it marks another challenging chapter in Mette-Marit’s health journey amidst ongoing public interest in her condition.

In addition to health concerns, the Norwegian royal family is facing another crisis as Mette-Marit’s son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby, faces legal troubles, including multiple charges of abuse against ex-girlfriends. This combination of personal and family challenges has put the spotlight on the Norwegian royal family, making Mette-Marit’s health issues all the more poignant as the family navigates through these difficult times.