Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit has returned to work for the new year, just weeks after news of a possible lung transplant was made public.
The 52-year-old joined husband Crown Prince Haakon, and 800 school students, at Oslo City Hall to take a stand against racism 25 years since the murder of a man in a hate-charged attack.
Mette-Marit has been keeping a low profile since Christmas as she prioritises her health following a worsening of her chronic lung condition.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway has returned to work for the year, weeks after her health deteriorated. (The Royal House of Norway)
In December, the Royal House of Norway said the princess’s medical team had begun preparations with a view to assess the princess for a lung transplant. Her doctors have insisted she will not jump the transplant waitlist owing to her place in the royal family.
Mette-Marit was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, which causes scarring in the lungs and leads to reduced oxygen uptake.
The Crown Princess had treatment in October with the hopes of better managing the condition and improving her quality of life but unfortunately the situation deteriorated further.
She has been forced to scale back her official program of work since the diagnosis and has struggled to breath on occasion when speaking in public.
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Marius Borg Hoiby, the son of the Crown Princess and stepson of the future king, will go to trial next week. (Getty)
Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s engagement on Monday comes one week before her first-born son goes on trial for rape.
Marius Borg Høiby has been indicted on 38 counts, up from the initial 32.
The allegations include the rape of four women, physical and psychological abuse of two other women, a threat to kill a man, multiple traffic offences and the newly-added transporting 3.5kg of marijuana.
Høiby has denied some of the charges and faces 10 years in prison if convicted.
The trial will begin on February 3 and run until March 13, in Oslo’s District Court.
The Crown Prince couple are expected to support Høiby in court for part of the proceedings. Høiby’s stepfather, Crown Prince Haakon, is Norway’s future King.
The country’s current monarch, King Harald is 88 and he is not expected to attend court.
Høiby was never given a royal title when his mother married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001, but he grew up as a member of the royal house and was often seen attending engagements with the family.
He and the Crown Prince couple’s other two children – including Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus – grew up together.
Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, pictured in front of the Sydney Opera House, will return to Australia by late February. (Simen Sund, The Norwegian Royal Court)
Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 22, is currently on her first solo tour and the northernmost part of Norway was chosen for the occasion.
The princess has spent three days visiting Finnmark where part of her itinerary saw her travel to Karasjok and Kirkenes to meet with the Indigenous Sami people and learn more about their culture.
She is expected back in Australia by late February to resume her three-year degree at the University of Sydney when the new semester begins.
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