A successful lung transplant was submitted by Princess Mete-Marit of Norway, the royal palace announced on Wednesday. The 52-year-old wife of the throne's successor, Prince Haacon, has been facing pulmonary fibrosis since 2018, a chronic and progressive disease that seriously affects lung function.
According to a Norwegian royal family announcement, the surgery was successfully completed and the princess is recovering under medical supervision.
Mete-Marit had been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018. The disease causes scarring in the lungs, resulting in a gradual reduction in the body's ability to employ oxygen.
On June 5, Oslo University Hospital had announced that the princess had joined the waiting list for a lung transplant, following a significant deterioration in her health condition. According to doctors, without surgery her survival expectancy was estimated to not exceed one year.
"As with all patients undergoing transplantation, the princess will remain in hospital for several more weeks," said Professor Are Holm of Oslo University Hospital, in an announcement released by the palace.
Prince Haakon had reported last December that the family had seen a marked deterioration in his wife's condition and that he was experiencing more and more difficulty breathing.
Norway's Prime Minister, Yuna Gar Store, had praised Mete-Marrit for her open attitude towards her illness, noting that public reference to her condition can help other people who face similar health problems.
The history of Mete-Marrit has long employed Norwegian public opinion. When he met Prince Haakon at a music festival in 1999, he was a 25-year-old, single mother and did not belong to an aristocratic family. Their relationship initially provoked strong reactions and widespread publicity, however over the years it evolved into one of the most popular stories of the modern Norwegian monarchy, winning acceptance of the majority of citizens.