{"id":33210,"date":"2026-06-01T14:21:23","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T14:21:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/33210\/"},"modified":"2026-06-01T14:21:23","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T14:21:23","slug":"crown-prince-haakon-of-norway-cuts-japan-trip-short-over-princess-mette-marits-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/33210\/","title":{"rendered":"Crown Prince Haakon of Norway Cuts Japan Trip Short Over Princess Mette-Marit\u2019s Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Estimated2 min read<\/p>\n

Crown Prince Haakon is cutting his official trip to Japan short as concern mounts over the health of his wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit. The Royal House of Norway announced over the weekend<\/a> that Crown Prince Haakon would cancel the final leg of his visit, skipping a planned stop in the port city of Hachinohe on June 4 while keeping his full schedule in Tokyo from June 1-3. Haakon is scheduled to have dinner<\/a> with Emperor Naruhito as well as a meeting with Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko.<\/p>\n

The couple\u2019s daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, is also returning to Norway soon. The Princess and second-in-line to the Norwegian throne is currently pursuing a bachelor\u2019s degree in international relations and political economy at the University of Sydney<\/a>. \u201cShe plans to come home soon. It has to do with the family situation. That she wants to be with her mother,\u201d Crown Prince Haakon told reporters<\/a> in Tokyo on Monday. \u201cShe plans to complete her studies in Australia, but we\u2019ll have to come back to how long she stays home.\u201d<\/p>\n

The decision follows days of unusually candid public statements from the Norwegian royal family<\/a> about Mette-Marit\u2019s condition. She was diagnosed with chronic pulmonary fibrosis in 2018<\/a> and has been seen using supplemental oxygen<\/a> at recent public appearances. \u201cThe Crown Princess is seriously ill, and I think she has gotten a bit worse lately,\u201d Haakon told the press last week<\/a>. \u201cSo I am worried about her health. She uses oxygen in her everyday life, and that helps a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked whether Mette-Marit, 52, would be placed on a lung transplant list<\/a>, Haakon said the decision rested with her doctors. \u201cIt\u2019s up to the doctors, it’s a medical question. So they\u2019re the ones who decide when it should happen, when it\u2019s right. But I think she\u2019s gotten a lot worse lately, unfortunately.\u201d King Harald echoed those concerns on Thursday<\/a> during an engagement in western Norway. \u201cShe is seriously ill. There is no doubt about that, unfortunately.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"NORWAY-ROYALS\"LISE ASERUD\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Mette-Marit, wearing a nasal oxygen device, with her husband at a reception for Norway\u2019s Olympians and Paralympians in April.<\/p>\n

The royal family is managing several health challenges simultaneously. Queen Sonja, 88, was admitted to the National Hospital in Oslo<\/a> last week after being diagnosed with heart failure and atrial fibrillation. She has since been discharged. \u201cHer form is much better,\u201d King Harald said. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t good when I left. She was a little depressed then because she wasn’t allowed to be here. That she wasn\u2019t able to do what she did before, but as far as I understand, she is much better than she was when I left. Now the medication is under control.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Rachel King (she\/her) is a news writer at\u00a0Town & Country. Before joining\u00a0T&C, she spent nearly a decade as an editor at\u00a0Fortune. Her work covering travel and lifestyle has appeared in\u00a0Forbes,\u00a0Observer,\u00a0Robb Report, Cruise Critic, and\u00a0Cool Hunting, among others. Originally from San Francisco, she lives in New York with her wife, their daughter, and a precocious labradoodle. Follow her on Instagram at\u00a0@rk.passport<\/a>.<\/p>\n