Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit has been pictured for the first time since undergoing a life-saving lung transplant, appearing in photos celebrating Norway's FIFA World Cup quarter-final qualification. The princess, 52, watched Norway's 2-1 victory over Brazil on television alongside Crown Prince Haakon at their official residence in Oslo.
In the images shared on the Norwegian royal family's official Instagram account, the Crown Princess is seen dressed casually in a grey coat and a red football scarf. This marks her first public appearance since her surgery last month, following her treatment for a rare form of pulmonary fibrosis. The Royal House of Norway confirmed on June 17 that the lung transplant had been successful and that "everything has progressed well so far."
While Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon observed the match from their home, their eldest daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, attended the game in New Jersey. Accompanied by her brother Prince Sverre Magnus, Princess Ingrid Alexandra visited the locker room to congratulate the team after their win. She is next in line for the throne and her presence at the tournament, including a previous appearance at a group-stage match, has been noted as significant during her mother's recovery. Crown Prince Haakon had scaled back his public engagements to be with his wife following her surgery.
King Harald and Queen Sonja also supported the national team from their summer retreat. Queen Sonja had been hospitalized for heart issues in May. The World Cup matches have served as Princess Ingrid Alexandra's first official public appearances since her mother's transplant.
The Crown Princess was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, a condition causing scarring of the lungs and breathing difficulties, in 2018. Her condition had significantly deteriorated in the six months prior to her transplant being announced on June 5, when she was placed on the waiting list. Doctors indicated the procedure was a last resort. Following the transplant, she was expected to remain at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet for several weeks for rehabilitation and training.
This period has also seen personal challenges for the royal family, as Mette-Marit's 29-year-old son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Hoiby, was sentenced to four years in prison for rape and other offenses. Hoiby, who does not hold a royal title but is closely associated with the family, denied the most serious charges and his lawyers have stated they will appeal the conviction.