Queen Mette-Marit of Norway will not return to official public duties until next summer as she continues her rehabilitation from a lung transplant undergone in June, the Norwegian Royal House announced.
The 53-year-old queen suffered complications that forced her to miss the accession of her husband, King Haakon VIII, last month. Royal officials stated that she remains in rehabilitation following her surgery and is not expected to hold an official schedule before the middle of next year.
Her mother-in-law, Queen Sonja, will step in to represent the royal family during official missions alongside King Haakon VIII during the queen's extended recovery.
Mette-Marit became Queen consort of Norway following the accession of King Haakon VIII to the Norwegian throne. The Royal House of Norway is based in Oslo, the nation's capital, where official state functions and royal duties are conducted at the Royal Palace. A lung transplant is a major surgical procedure in which a diseased lung is replaced with a healthy organ, requiring months of specialized physical rehabilitation, respiratory therapy, and careful medical supervision to prevent complications.
Official Mourning Period Concluded
The Norwegian royal family concludes a period of official mourning of more than a month on Friday, October 9, following the death of its patriarch, King Harald V. The late monarch died on August 31, 2026.
King Haakon VIII, who succeeded his father on the throne, will not make any major official trips or state visits between now and the end of the year. Royal officials said his schedule will be entirely devoted to important societal areas including democracy, nature and the environment, business, defense, and inclusion while the monarch gradually adapts to his new role.
King Harald V had served as Norway's monarch for more than three decades after ascending the throne in 1991. The constitutional monarchy of Norway assigns the sovereign a ceremonial and representative role as head of state, representing the nation in official duties both domestically and internationally.
Princess Ingrid Alexandra Academic Plans
Princess Ingrid Alexandra, the 22-year-old direct heir to the throne, will continue to prioritize her studies while participating in select official activities. The young princess rushed back to Oslo at the beginning of the summer to be near her mother as Queen Mette-Marit's health was deteriorating.
Currently undertaking a university exchange in Oslo, Princess Ingrid Alexandra will travel to Sydney, Australia, in February to continue her degree program in politics and international relations. Her schedule leaves her time to spend the end-of-year holidays with her family following several difficult months.
As the eldest child of King Haakon VIII and Queen Mette-Marit, Princess Ingrid Alexandra stands first in line to the Norwegian throne as direct heir. Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, is Australia's largest city and a major global hub for international students and higher education.
