The Norwegian Royal House has been facing some complicated times. Marius Borg, the son of Princess Mette-Marit, is awaiting his trial following some grave accusations from different women that could result in 10 years in prison. All the while, the Royal House has announced that Mette-Marit will be temporarily canceling her royal agenda to focus on her health.
In 2018, the Princess was diagnosed with chronic pulmonary fibrosis, a disease where scar tissue progressively builds up in the lungs. It seems like the Princess' condition has worsened, with her requiring more frequent visits to the hospital, which have prompted secondary effects that have affected her ability to effectively carry out her duties.
The Royal House shared a statement with the public. "Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit will undergo a month of pulmonary rehabilitation in Norway from the beginning of October," reads the message.
"The Crown Princess will therefore not carry out official assignments in October, but some exceptions are planned, such as the dinner for the representatives of the Storting at the Royal Palace on October 23. The Crown Princess is scheduled to resume her official work in November."
The Royal Family is facing complicated times
Over the past year, the Norwegian Royal Family has been facing some complications, with the case of Marius Borg affecting the popularity of his mother. Borg, the son of Mette-Marit from a previous relationship, has been charged with 32 offenses, including 4 counts of rape. The trial is scheduled to begin on February 3rd and promises to be a big scandal for the Crown.
The Crown's popularity has plummeted in the past months, with a Nettavisen poll revealing that only 30% of the people polled considered Mette-Merit as an adequate choice for a future queen. Crown Prince Haakon's numbers were higher, with 65% of the people polled believing him to be a good fit for the position.
Over the summer, Prince Haakon addressed Borg's charges for the first time. "We will continue to carry out our duties as best we can, as we always do," as reported by Reuters. "Everyone involved in this case probably finds it challenging and difficult."