Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway shares first photograph since life-saving lung surgery

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway has made her first public appearance since her surgery.

She was pictured alongside Crown Prince Haakon, cheering on the Norwegian national team from the Royal Palace during their match against Brazil in the 2026 World Cup.

Adorned with Norwegian scarves and flags, the couple shared the emotion they felt at their team’s historic victory – a snapshot that also carried a hopeful message about the princess’s recovery. 

Alongside the photograph, published on the Royal House’s official Instagram profile, they shared the following message: “The whole family followed the match with great excitement: the King and Queen from Mågerø, the Crown Prince and Princess from the Royal Palace, and Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus from the stadium in the United States.

“Congratulations to the national team, the coaching staff, and all of Norway for this extraordinary achievement!”

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Another image shared by the Royal Court shows the Crown Prince and Princess looking out of the palace window with a hopeful expression on her face.

While they haven’t revealed what caught their attention, it seems likely they were watching the celebrations following Norway’s historic qualification, amidst an atmosphere of euphoria that may have included street parties and even a fireworks display.

This intimate scene shows exactly how Haakon and Mette-Marit experienced a huge night for Norwegian sport.

Family celebrations for the Norwegian royals

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While the Crown Prince and Princess watched the match from the Royal Palace, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus travelled to the United States to support their national team live. 

The siblings followed the game with great excitement and, after their country’s historic qualification, posed smiling alongside two legends of world football, Brazilians Ronaldinho and Ronaldo Nazário.

“The miracle in New Jersey!” they shared on their official social media account, along with several photos and videos of themselves in the locker room congratulating each of the players.

Meanwhile, King Harald and Queen Sonja also showed their support for the national team. From their summer residence in Mågerø, the Royal House shared a heartwarming image of the couple holding Norwegian flags, ready to watch the crucial World Cup match.

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Alongside the photograph, they wrote: “A resounding ‘Go Norway!’ from the King and Queen before tonight’s World Cup match!” The snapshot shows the smiling monarchs dressed in blue and white, the colours of the national flag.

Mette-Marit’s health woes

Crown Princess Mette-Marit underwent a successful lung transplant at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet in mid-June. The 52-year-old royal was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018. 

The chronic condition has severely impacted her health in recent months, leading to frequent absences from public duties. During her last few appearances, including Norway’s National Day in May, the Crown Princess appeared visibly fatigued, suffered from frequent coughing fits, and required periods of rest and supplemental oxygen.

In early June, the palace announced she had been placed on the organ transplant waiting list. Medical officials emphasised the critical nature of her health, noting that patients are typically only added to the list when their life expectancy drops to less than a year, with priority given to the most critically ill.

Following the procedure, Arna Tiane, the head of Thoracic Surgery at Rikshospitalet, confirmed that the transplant has been a success so far and expressed deep gratitude to the medical team involved in the planning and execution of the surgery. Tiane noted that everything has gone smoothly and stated that the Crown Princess will remain hospitalized for several weeks, the standard protocol for newly transplanted patients.

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In an official statement, the Norwegian Royal House confirmed the successful surgery and shared a message from the royal couple.

 “The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess express their sincere gratitude for the many warm and kind messages they have received,” the palace stated, adding that the public’s support has meant a great deal during this incredibly challenging time. Princess Mette-Marit now faces an extended period of rehabilitation as her body adapts to the new lung.