Crown Prince cuts international trip short due to Crown Princess's 'worrying' illness
Crown Prince Haakon has been forced to cut his international trip to Japan short due to the health of his wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit.
The Norwegian Royal House confirmed on Friday the heir to the throne 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 stated.
The Crown Prince, 52, had been expected to meet Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako during his visit.
The announcement follows remarks made by Crown Prince Haakon just days earlier in which he expressed deep concern for his wife's condition.
"The Crown Princess is seriously ill, and I think she has gotten a bit worse lately," he told Norwegian broadcaster NRK. "So I am worried about her health."
Crown Princess Mette-Marit, also 52, now depends on supplemental oxygen in her daily routine, which Haakon noted "helps a bit".
Regarding the possibility of a lung transplant, the Crown Prince indicated such decisions rest with medical professionals.
"It's a medical question. So they're the ones who decide when it should happen, when it's right," he explained.
The Crown Princess received her diagnosis of chronic pulmonary fibrosis back in 2018, an incurable condition affecting the lungs.
Her most recent public appearance came on May 17 at the royal residence Skaugum, near Oslo, where she attended Norwegian Constitution Day celebrations.
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Haakon acknowledged that recent months had presented varying challenges.
"These six months have gone pretty well, I think. But there are different phases. So we just have to try to solve it as best we can," he said.
The royal couple wed in 2001 and have two children together: Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 22, and Prince Sverre Magnus, 20.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit is not the sole member of the Norwegian royal household grappling with health difficulties.
Queen Sonja, 88, was admitted to hospital earlier this week after cancelling official duties due to cardiac problems.
She has since been discharged and returned home following adjustments to her medication.
King Harald, 89, has similarly endured a series of medical setbacks in recent years, including a leg operation in 2022, two bouts of Covid in 2022 and 2023, and pacemaker surgery in 2024.
Most recently, the monarch required hospitalisation in February 2026 while on holiday, suffering from infection and dehydration.
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