Norway’s crown princess has undergone a successful lung transplant, the country’s royal house said on Wednesday, about two weeks after she was placed on a waiting list as her health deteriorated.
The princess, Mette-Marit, underwent surgery at the Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, where she will remain for several weeks as she recovers, the royal house said.
“We are very pleased that everything has gone well so far,” Arnt Fiane, head of the hospital’s cardiothoracic surgery unit, said in a statement.
The 52-year-old princess was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018. The disease causes scar tissue to build up in the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe.
This month, medical professionals responsible for the princess’ operation said that she required a double lung transplant. In recent months, the princess has been photographed wearing an oxygen tube as she carried out her royal duties.
The princess’ ill health comes during a period of crisis for the royal family. On Monday, a Norwegian court convicted her eldest son of rape and other crimes, and sentenced him to four years in prison. The son, Marius Borg Hoiby, 29, has asked the court to release him as he appeals his conviction, citing his mother’s illness.
Earlier this year, the princess herself faced the spotlight after a release of files showed how friendly she had been with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Historians said that the Epstein links, coupled with Mr. Hoiby’s arrest and subsequent trial, were together the worst crisis the royal family had suffered since the dynasty was established in 1905. Princess Mette-Marit publicly apologized for what she described as her poor judgment in her dealings with Mr. Epstein, and the royal family stayed away from Mr. Hoiby’s court proceedings.
The post Norway’s Crown Princess Has Lung Transplant appeared first on New York Times.
