Queen Mette-Marit has been taken to hospital after she pulled out of her husband’s swearing-in ceremony at the last minute.
The new Queen Consort of Norway was seen being driven to the National Hospital in Oslo by King Haakon on Monday evening.
At 6.20 pm, Haakon left the hospital without his wife, before returning to the medical centre to pick up the Queen at 9.30 pm, according to HELLO!’s sister publication HOLA!.
Mette-Marit was not pictured as she was seated in the back of the car.
© NTB/AFP via Getty ImagesKing Haakon pictured driving away from the National Hospital in Oslo on Monday
The exact reason for the specific visit has not been confirmed, but an earlier statement from the Norwegian Palace said she needed to be “observed”.
Earlier in the day, Mette-Marit was unexpectedly absent for her husband’s official oath to the constitution, with their daughter, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, standing in for her.
King Haakon is taking part in the official steps to take over as monarch after his father, King Harald, passed away last Friday, aged 89. He had ruled Norway for 35 years.
WATCH: King Haakon and Mette-Marit’s love story
Queen Mette-Marit’s latest health update
On Monday, Mette-Marit’s doctors gave an official update on her condition, saying her absence was due to “complications” from her lung transplant, which she received in June.
Pulmonologist Are Holm at the National Hospital said: “It is not uncommon for complications to occur after a lung transplant.
“The Queen has had complications on some occasions since the operation, including today.
© Alamy Stock PhotoMette-Marit and Queen Sonja as King Harald’s bier was moved from the Red Salon to the Palace Chapel
“As a result, the Queen must be observed throughout the day. The Queen will therefore unfortunately not be able to attend the swearing-in ceremony in the Storting today.”
The palace did not give further comment after the royal couple was seen arriving at the hospital.
The Queen has suffered from a rare form of pulmonary fibrosis since 2018, which scars the lungs and makes it harder to breathe.
Earlier this year, Haakon revealed that her condition had “worsened” and she was “seriously ill“, before she underwent her lung transplant.
At the time, doctors said she would be taking six months away from public duties as she recovers, though she was present at a memorial service for King Harald over the weekend.
Remembering King Harald V of Norway
As is custom in Norway, the new King Haakon became King immediately upon his father’s death.
His official state funeral will be held on 9 September at Oslo Cathedral.
King Harald passed away last Friday aged 89
Members of the Japanese royal family and the Dutch royal family have been the first to announce their attendance.
Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko will attend King Harald’s funeral, as will King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima, Princess Amalia, and Princess Beatrix.
For the Dutch royals, this means all prior official events have been postponed.