Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit signed off sick due to lung disease
The 51-year-old wife of Crown Prince Haakon announced in October 2018 that she had been diagnosed with a rare form of pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable disease that causes scarring of the lungs and shortness of breath.
Her latest period of sick leave will notably force her to cancel her visit to the Leipzig Book Fair in Germany.
On March 6th, the palace said that Mette-Marit's condition had worsened, indicating that it may force her to reduce her official duties.
The crown princess has previously been signed off sick for several weeks in September 2023 and October 2024, when she also cancelled her public engagements.
Advertisement
"When you get to be 50, you understand that life is not eternal," she told Norwegian daily DN in an interview published in August 2023 ahead of her 50th birthday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Local Norway
03-06-2025
- Local Norway
LISTED: Six new laws that need to be passed in Norway before summer
Close to 200 matters are scheduled for debate and decision up to the parliament's summer break, making this one of the most demanding legislative periods of the term. Several of these proposals and amendments, which are expected to be finalised and voted on in the coming weeks, will have a notable impact on life in Norway. READ MORE: Nine unmissable events in June 2025 New Kindergarten Act (June 3rd) A majority in parliament has reached an agreement on a new Kindergarten Act. The reform aims to change governance and financing rules, with the goal of ensuring greater transparency, higher quality standards, and improved financial oversight in both public and private kindergartens. Interested in finding out more about what makes kindergarten in Norway different? These are some of the biggest surprise s reported by foreigners bringing up children in this Scandinavian country. Motorhome driving license reform (June 3rd) New driving rules would allow holders of a standard Class B license to drive motorhomes weighing up to 4.25 tons, up from the current 3.5-ton limit. This change is backed by a parliamentary majority and is expected to benefit tourism and domestic travel. EXPLAINED: The ways you can lose your driving licence in Norway Advertisement Expanded dental care access (June 4th) A proposal supported by the Labour Party, the Centre Party, the Socialist Left Party, and the Red Party aims to extend free dental care from age 25 to 28. The plan also calls for a gradual expansion of public dental services, marking a step toward more comprehensive healthcare coverage in Norway. If you're wondering how dental care in Norway is structured at the moment, how much it costs, and what you should expect, check out this explainer . Tobacco regulations (June 4th) The Storting is expected to adopt stricter tobacco control measures, including a ban on smoking at playgrounds, sports facilities, and inside vehicles with children. The changes aim to strengthen protections against second-hand smoke exposure for minors. Advertisement Tourist tax (June 4th) A proposal to introduce a municipal tourist tax will be under review. Although a final agreement on the model has not been reached, there is growing parliamentary support for allowing municipalities to impose local fees to offset the environmental and infrastructural costs associated with tourism. Still, there isn't a clear majority in favour at the moment. The Local has a deep dive into the latest tourist tax developments in Norway, which you can find here . READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Norway's planned tourist tax Consent Act (June 5th) A new law defining rape based on lack of consent rather than use of force is set to pass with broad cross-party support. This represents a landmark shift in Norwegian criminal law, aligning with international human rights recommendations. Advertisement Revised national budget (June 20th) Finally, the 2025 revised national budget will be finalised by June 20th. Key sticking points include the Centre Party's demand for reduced food VAT and the Socialist Left Party's call for universal free kindergarten. These negotiations will likely influence fiscal policy well into the next term. You can find all the proposals that will be up for consideration in June on the parliament's website, here .
Local Norway
22-04-2025
- Local Norway
Norway's Queen Sonja admitted to hospital with breathing problems
"The Queen was transported by medical helicopter from the royal chalet in Sikkilsdalen, where the royal couple were spending the Easter holidays," the palace said in a statement. Since 1924, the Norwegian royal family has spent most of its Easter holidays at the chalet, according to the NTB news agency. Queen Sonja was briefly hospitalised in January after experiencing cardiac fibrillation, a rapid and irregular heartbeat. She then had a pacemaker installed, a procedure the palace described as "successful." Advertisement Her husband King Harald is Europe's oldest reigning monarch at 87. He also had a pacemaker inserted last March after contracting an infection during a private vacation in Malaysia.
Local Norway
08-04-2025
- Local Norway
What foreigners in Oslo think of the quality of life in the Norwegian capital
Approximately one-third of Oslo's residents have what's described as a foreign background, meaning they were born abroad or to two foreign-born parents in Norway. The reason children born to two foreign-born parents are included in immigration figures is that Norway only grants citizenship to children born in the country if they have at least one parent who is a Norwegian citizen . According to a public health survey from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health , immigrants in the Norwegian capital were lonelier, had slightly worse health, and poorer finances than Norwegians. 'The survey documents significant social and geographical health disparities in Oslo. It also points to a large gap in health and quality of life between different age and immigrant groups,' the report's conclusion read. Some 45,480 participated in the survey, which was translated into several languages to ensure that immigrants were significantly represented in the figures. Significant differences also exist between the capital's immigrant groups. Those hailing from Asia, South and Latin America, and Eastern Europe reported the highest levels of loneliness, with those born in Asia being twice as lonely as those born in Norway. Additionally, those from Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe had lower trust in society than the rest of the population. Furthermore, non-western immigrants and immigrants from Eastern Europe had worse finances than other residents. Over half of those from Eastern Europe said they struggled to make ends meet, with 60 percent of immigrants from European countries outside the EU and 70 percent of immigrants from Africa or Asia experiencing the same. Advertisement In comparison, one in three Oslo residents in total said they had trouble making ends meet. Healthwise, immigrants from Asia and European countries outside the EU had the lowest proportion of those saying they were in good health. However, those from the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand reported the best health – even higher than Norwegians and those from Nordic countries. ¨ 'The large differences within and between districts, including variations among immigrant groups, emphasise the need for targeted measures that take into account both socioeconomic, cultural and health-related factors,' the report's findings read. Generally, the report found that its residents considered Oslo a good place to live. Seven out of ten considered their own health to be good, and most experience Oslo as a safe city. READ ALSO: What is Oslo's traditional east-west divide, and does it still exist today?
