Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s chronic lung disease has worsened to the point where it’s affecting “her ability to perform her duties,” the Royal House of Norway announced. 

Mette-Marit, 51, is suffering from pulmonary fibrosis, described by the Mayo Clinic as a condition that irreparably damages and scars the lungs, leading to shortness of breath. 

“The Crown Princess has daily symptoms and ailments that affect her ability to perform her duties,” the Royal House of Norway said in a statement, noting her disease has “progressed.” 

“The Crown Princess needs more rest, and her daily routine changes more quickly than before. This means that changes to her official schedule may occur more frequently, and at shorter notice than we are used to,” it added. 

Crown Prince Hakon Magnus and Crown Princess Mette-Marit attend the Save the Children Peace Prize Party at the Nobel Peace Center on Dec. 10, 2024 in Oslo, Norway. (Per Ole Hagen/Getty Images)

“The Crown Prince and I are choosing to make this public now partly because in future there will be a need to plan periods of time without an official program to accommodate treatment and when the disease is more active,” she added. 

The Mayo Clinic said some people with pulmonary fibrosis “can stay stable for a long time, but the condition gets worse faster in others.”  

Crown Princess Mette-Marit visits Lilleby Elementary School on Sept. 12, 2024 in Trondheim, Norway.  (Rune Hellestad/Corbis/Getty Images)

“As it gets worse, people become more and more short of breath,” it also said. “Medicines and therapies can sometimes help slow down the rate of fibrosis, ease symptoms and improve quality of life. For some people, a lung transplant might be an option.”