Crown Princess' health prompts future king to cut short foreign visit

Norway's Crown Prince Haakon was  forced to cut his foreign short due to the health of his wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit.

The Norwegian Royal House said  Friday Crown Prince Haakon would maintain his scheduled engagements in Tokyo from June 1-3, though his planned trip to the coastal city of Hachinohe on June 4 has been scrapped entirely.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is shortening his official trip to Japan by one day due to the health situation of Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess," the palace said.

Speaking to a local broadcaster, Haakon recently said, "The Crown Princess is seriously ill, and I think she has gotten a bit worse lately. So I am worried about her health."

In December 2025, the royal family said Crown Princess Mette-Marit was expected to undergo a lung transplant following a deterioration of her health. 

In his latest interview, the Crown Prince said, "It's a medical question. So they're the ones who decide when it should happen, when it's right." 

Crown Princess Mette-Marit. was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, a chronic disease that causes scarring in the lungs and leads to a reduced oxygen uptake.