Palace Shares Update on Crown Princess Mette-Marit's Royal Role as Chronic Disease 'Progresses'

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway will be shifting her royal responsibilities as her chronic pulmonary fibrosis has "progressed," the Royal House of Norway announced on March 6.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 51, is married to Crown Prince Haakon, the heir to the throne, and the palace publicized her diagnosis of the condition in October 2018.

The Royal House said in the health update, "Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit's chronic disease pulmonary fibrosis has progressed."

"The Crown Princess has daily symptoms and ailments that affect her ability to perform her duties. The Crown Princess needs more rest, and her daily routine changes more quickly than before," the statement continued. "This means that changes to her official schedule may occur more frequently, and at shorter notice than we are used to."

The court emphasized that Princess Mette-Marit was committed to continuing her work and that her calendar would change to meet her needs now.

"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 royal house concluded.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit seemed to be in good spirits when she stepped out for a royal engagement the day before for a visit to Oslo University Hospital Ullevål to see how the hospital's clowns (professional actors who undergo a training program) lift spirits for the kids receiving care there. 

Mette-Marit became a working member of the Norwegian royal family upon her marriage to Crown Prince Haakon in 2001. The couple share Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 21 and Prince Sverre Magnus, 19, plus Mette-Marit's son Marius Borg Høiby, 28, who she welcomed during a previous relationship prior to her marriage.

The Mayo Clinic defines chronic pulmonary fibrosis as a lung disease that occurs when lung tissue becomes scarred, making it more difficult for the lungs to work properly. It can worsen over time and can be difficult for doctors to identify the cause of the problem.

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The court shared six years ago that the Crown Princess was diagnosed with chronic pulmonary fibrosis in an announcement that acknowledged that the condition "may limit the performance of her official program at times." 

Mette-Marit briefly went on sick leave in October 2024 due to side effects of a medication she was taking for her chronic lung disease, the Royal Court of Norway told PEOPLE at the time.