NEED TO KNOW
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Norway's Crown Prince Haakon is cutting short his trip to Japan.
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Royal family officials said the schedule change was due to his wife's "health concerns.".
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Crown Princess Mette-Marit was diagnosed with chronic pulmonary fibrosis in 2018 and has recently been seen using oxygen therapy during public appearances.
Norway's Crown Prince Haakon is cutting short his upcoming trip to Japan, citing health concerns for his wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit. .
On Friday, May 29, the royal house announced a change in the future king's overseas travel schedule.
«"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is shortening his official visit to Japan by one day due to the health of Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess," reads a press release published on the royal family's official website (translated). "This means the Crown Prince will maintain his entire official program in Tokyo from June 1 to 3, and his visit to the port city of Hachinohe on June 4 is cancelled.".
The news comes just days after the 52-year-old heir to the Norwegian throne expressed concern about the health of his 52-year-old wife, who was diagnosed with chronic pulmonary fibrosis in 2018 and has recently been seen using oxygen therapy at public events.
«"The Crown Princess is seriously ill, and I believe her condition has worsened somewhat recently," Crown Prince Haakon said, according to Norwegian broadcaster NRK. "Therefore, I am concerned about her health.".
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway attends a reception in honor of Norwegian Paralympic athletes on April 10, 2026. Photo: Lise Aserud/NTB/AFP via Getty
«"I think these six months have gone quite well. But there are different stages. So we just need to try to solve the problem as best we can," he added.
When asked whether she would be placed on the waiting list for a lung transplant, the royal heiress said it "depended on the doctors.".
«"It's a medical matter. So they're the ones who decide when it should happen, when it's right," he noted. "But unfortunately, I think her condition has worsened significantly recently.".
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Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway attend a reception for Paralympic athletes in April 2026. Photo: Lise Åserud/NTB/AFP via Getty
Haakon and Mette-Marit married in 2001 and have two children: Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 22, and Prince Sverre Magnus, 20. The Crown Princess is also the mother of Marius Borg Høiby, 29, from a previous relationship.
In addition to her health concerns, Crown Princess Mette-Marit faces other stressors. Høiby currently faces 38 charges of alleged sexual assault and harassment from multiple women, and Mette-Marit was also named in a January 30 US Department of Justice filing regarding the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, fueling speculation about the extent of their relationship. Mette-Marit is not accused of any crimes, and in a tearful interview with Norwegian television channel NRK, she denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
Queen Sonja and King Harald of Norway attend the Constitution Day parade in Norway on May 17, 2025. Photo: Per Ole Hagen/Getty
Crown Princess Mette-Marit is not the only member of the Norwegian royal family to face health problems.
Queen Sonja, Haakon's mother, was hospitalized this week with heart problems after planned events were cancelled. The 88-year-old queen has since returned home.
King Harald, 89, has also faced numerous health challenges in recent years. In 2022, he underwent leg surgery, was diagnosed with COVID-19 in 2022 and 2023, and received a pacemaker in 2024. Most recently, in February 2026, the king was hospitalized due to an infection and dehydration while on vacation.
Read the original article on People.