Norway observes August 19 as an official flag day in honor of Crown Princess Mette-Marit. However, there will be no new official portrait and no public engagement to mark her 53rd birthday this year. The palace has announced that the occasion will be a private celebration.
Instead of releasing a new birthday portrait, the royal family shared a family photo on Instagram that had been taken earlier this year. The picture features Mette-Marit alongside Crown Prince Haakon and their children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus.
The decision left some royal fans disappointed, as many had been hoping to see a new photo of the Crown Princess, particularly following her recent lung transplant.
Mette-Marit Is Celebrating Her 53rd Birthday in Private
According to n-tv.de, the royal household has decided not to have the Crown Princess make a public appearance on her special day.
The Norwegian royal family marked the occasion with a brief birthday message: “Congratulations to Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who turns 53 today.”
Lung Transplant Has Been a Major Focus in Recent Weeks
Mette-Marit has been living with chronic pulmonary fibrosis for years. During the first half of the year, her condition deteriorated to the point where a lung transplant became necessary. On June 17, the palace announced that she had successfully undergone the procedure.
Since then, the Crown Princess has stepped back from official engagements to focus on her recovery. In early July, the royal court released just two photos of Mette-Marit and Haakon watching a World Cup match featuring the Norwegian team on television.
Mette-Marit Makes a Rare Public Appearance Before Her Birthday
One day before her birthday, Mette-Marit was seen in public for the first time in some time. Together with Haakon, she visited King Harald at Oslo National Hospital.
The 89-year-old monarch is being treated for hemolytic anemia and has been placed on sick leave for two weeks, leaving his son to carry out royal duties on his behalf.
The following morning, Haakon was scheduled to hold audiences with the foreign minister and the chief of the general staff. The family also has another important date approaching: August 25 marks the 25th anniversary of the Crown Prince and Princess’s wedding. A planned celebration has been postponed as Mette-Marit continues her recovery.
Alongside the Crown Princess’s health challenges, the ongoing situation involving her son, Marius Borg Høiby, has also placed additional strain on the family in recent years.
Against this backdrop, Mette-Marit’s 53rd birthday is less about royal glamour and public celebrations and more about recovery, family, and resilience.
