Every Friday at 11 a.m., the Norwegian King holds his Council of State - a fixed institution in which Crown Prince Haakon (52) usually also participates. This Friday, his seat was empty, in the official program only the name of Harald V (89) can be read. According to the Royal House, the Crown Prince's originally scheduled appearance was canceled at short notice. The explanation that the court communicated to the newspaper "Aftenposten" was unequivocal: Haakon's schedule is being adjusted to spend more time with the Crown Princess.
The background is the life-threatening pulmonary fibrosis that Crown Princess Mette-Marit (52) suffers from. The disease has been known since 2018, but has recently deteriorated significantly. The Norwegian Royal House confirmed that the Crown Princess has been placed on the waiting list for a lung transplant after extensive medical examinations. "The course of the Crown Princess's lung disease is serious", it was stated in early June in the official statement.
The session is not the first appointment that Haakon has skipped these days. Already on Tuesday, he had canceled his participation in the international soccer match between Norway and Austria at the Ullevaal Stadium. Stepping in for him were Princess Ingrid Alexandra (22) and Prince Sverre Magnus (20). And Haakon will also not attend the celebrations for the Golden Wedding Anniversary of the Swedish royal couple on June 13 in Stockholm - a cancellation with symbolic weight, as such anniversaries among friendly royal houses are rarely missed.
However, Haakon had still fulfilled several appointments this week: He attended the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the foundation he and Mette-Marit established, conducted the inspection of the Royal Guard, and received the Kenyan President for an audience.
Silver Wedding Anniversary Postponed, Daughter Returns
The illness is also changing family planning beyond everyday life. The Crown Prince couple will postpone the celebrations for their silver wedding anniversary, which were scheduled for August 2026. Mette-Marit will also not participate in the provincial tour planned for September. Until the operation, it will not be possible for her to work or attend official appointments as usual, the Royal House announced.
Particularly moving is her daughter's decision: Princess Ingrid Alexandra is returning from Australia. She will relocate her studies in the fall as part of an exchange program from the University of Sydney to the University of Oslo - to be closer to her family during this time.
