Following her major lung surgery, Princess Mette-Marit is back home. The Norwegian Crown Princess was discharged from Oslo’s Rikshospitalet after just under four weeks and is now recovering in the comfort of her own home. For the 52-year-old, however, this marks only the beginning of the next phase: Over the next six to twelve months, she will undergo closely monitored rehabilitation under the supervision of her pulmonologists.

Since 2018, Mette-Marit has been living with incurable pulmonary fibrosis; before her transplant, she relied on a portable oxygen concentrator. Her health has been a concern for many people in Norway for weeks.

Prince Haakon Gives a Cautious Update on Mette-Marit

Prince Haakon also spoke about his wife's condition on Sunday during a visit to the fire-damaged Krokstadelva near Drammen. The 53-year-old sounded optimistic but remained cautious. "Fortunately, things are getting better, thank you. But it’s the beginning of a pretty long road to getting better", Haakon said, according to “De Telegraaf.”

The visit took place under somber circumstances: Haakon visited the area following a devastating fire that destroyed more than 100 homes and forced 400 people to leave their homes.

Rehabilitation Under Strict Medical Supervision

Mette-Marit’s treatment is by no means over now that she has been discharged from the hospital. The Crown Princess now faces months of rehabilitation under strict medical supervision. She had already been placed on the Norwegian organ waiting list on June 5, 2026.

The fact that recovery is now possible at home is seen as an important step. At the same time, Haakon’s statement makes it clear that the road back to everyday life is likely to be a long one and that patience will be required.

Lung Specialist Assesses the Outlook

From a medical standpoint, too, the recovery process following a lung transplant is challenging. Jesper Magnusson, a Swedish senior physician and medical director of lung transplants at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, told “TV 2”: "The goal is for patients to lead a much better life than they did when they were suffering from lung disease. But life will never be the same as it was before the illness."

This assessment shows just how great the hope is for a better quality of life, but also what lasting consequences such a serious illness can have.