Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit On Lung Transplant List

COPENHAGEN, June 5 (Bernama-dpa) -- Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit has been placed on the waiting list for a lung transplant, the Norwegian royal court in Oslo announced on Friday, with her lung specialist describing her condition as serious, German Press Agency (dpa) reported. 

Lung specialist Are Holm said that following a comprehensive medical assessment, she had been placed on the list of people who should receive a lung transplant as soon as possible, according to a statement from the royal court.

The doctor at Oslo University Hospital made the announcement, though it is not yet known how long it may take to find a suitable donor lung.

Mette-Marit suffers from the incurable condition pulmonary fibrosis, in which scar tissue forms in the lung, causing symptoms including breathlessness.

The crown princess' health deteriorated recently. She has been seen on several occasions using an oxygen device -  most recently on Thursday, according to Norwegian media, when she was briefly at Oslo University Hospital before leaving after a few hours.

While she awaits a new lung, the crown princess will not be able to carry out her official programme as normal, the court said.

Mette-Marit's condition also has consequences for the crown prince's family. The crown prince couple will not celebrate their silver wedding anniversary in August as planned.

Crown Prince Haakon, 52, will limit longer trips to spend more time with his wife. He recently cut short a trip to Japan to accompany Mette-Marit to hospital on Thursday.

The crown prince will also not attend the golden wedding anniversary of the Swedish royal couple in June, the statement said.

-- BERNAMA-dpa