Celebratory

Crown Princess Mette-Marit smiles in first post-transplant photos with Prince Haakon


A post on social media marks the first time Mette-Marit has been seen since major surgery


Mette-Marit of Norway placed on lung transplant waiting list as palace confirms she will step back from royal duties© Getty Images
Maria LoretoSenior Writer
JULY 6, 2026 12:54 PM EDT

Crown Princess Mette-Marit makes her first appearance after one of the most challenging experiences of her life. The Norwegian royal monarch has been celebrating her country's special moment in the FIFA World Cup, with the royal house sharing her first look since her lung transplant. 

This marks the first look of Mette-Marit since her lung surgery© @detnorskekongehus
This marks the first look of Mette-Marit since her lung surgery

In photos shared by the Norwegian royal house, Mette-Marit is seen alongside Crown Prince Haakon, showing him with his arm around the princess. She was seen smiling at the camera, wearing a comfortable-looking outfit made up of a grey sweater and some baggy jeans. 

In the case of Haakon, he wore an all-black look made up of trousers and a sweater, with a white button-up underneath. Both completed the looks with Norwegian scarves, celebrating their team's historic win in the World Cup, with them entering the quarterfinals for the first time in the country's history. 

Mette Marit and Prince Haakon watched the Norway game from their home© @detnorskekongehus
Mette Marit and Prince Haakon watched the Norway game from their home

"Yesterday was a historic night!" the royal house captioned the post on Instagram. 

"The whole family watched with excitement! The Royal Couple from Mågerø, the Crown Prince Couple from the Castle - and Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus at the stadium in the USA.Congratulations to the national team, the support system and Norway with the fantastic achievement!"

Mette Marit's surgery and health

Earlier this year, Mette-Marit received a lung transplant, a complicated surgery conducted to address her pulmonary fibrosis, a condition she was diagnosed with in 2018. The disease causes scarring of the lungs and shortness of breath, with it progressing over the past year and causing her to scale back her duties.

Making matters more complicated, Mette-Marit has also been struggling with her eldest son, Marius Borg, whom she had before her marriage to Prince Haakon. Borg was recently sentenced to four years in prison after being charged with rape and various other counts.

Mette-Marit of Norway placed on lung transplant waiting list as palace confirms she will step back from royal duties© Getty Images
Mette Marit's last public appearance showed her struggling for her breath

Prince Ingrid and Prince Sverre celebrate the win in the US

While the Crown Prince and Princess remain at home recovering, they've sent their kids, Prince Ingrid and Prince Sverre, to the US to celebrate the Norwegian team. The siblings have been photographed attending numerous games. 

On Sunday, Norway delivered one of the tournament's surprises, with them kicking Brazil out of the tournament with two goals scored by Erling Haaland, one of the world's great soccer stars. In videos shared online, Prince Ingrid and Prince Sverre were seen greeting the Norwegian team, with both of them sharing hugs with Haaland

The siblings were photographed alongside two of the greatest soccer players of all time: Ronaldinho and Ronaldo

Prince Ingrid and Prince Sverre watching the World Cup in person© @detnorskekongehus
Prince Ingrid and Prince Sverre watching the World Cup in person