Princess Mette-Marit of Norway was at the center of one of the most talked-about moments of the country’s National Day on May 17, a celebration that traditionally brings the Royal Family together first at Skaugum, where the Crown Prince and Princess receive the children’s parade, this year without Ingrid Alexandra, and later on the balcony of the Royal Palace in Oslo.
According to the Norwegian press, the princess appeared “visibly frail,” marked by her reliance on oxygen and the need to sit down at several points to avoid exhaustion. Her effort to take part in such an important occasion was evident from the very first moment.
A visibly difficult start at Skaugum
Mette-Marit appeared outside her residence at Skaugum with a nasal cannula clearly visible and a small oxygen unit, equipment that has accompanied her on most of her outings lately. Just days earlier, the princess had been photographed with the same device during a visit to Oslo Prison to see her son Marius, an image that had already raised concern across the country.
© Getty ImagesSo today, more than the oxygen itself, what drew attention was the physical effort the princess made to be present for one of the Nordic nation’s most important celebrations.
Pauses, fatigue, and a demanding schedule
During the traditional greeting of schoolchildren at Skaugum, Mette-Marit needed a chair discreetly placed off to one side of the main entrance. According to local media, this precaution was part of the medical plan set for what was expected to be an especially demanding day for the princess.
© Getty ImagesAs the children’s parade passed by the family residence, Haakon of Norway’s wife had to alternate between standing and sitting, “visibly struggling to breathe,” as reported by Dagbladet. After a while, she had to cut the greetings short. According to TV 2, it had already been anticipated that this might happen.
© Getty ImagesPrince Haakon remained by her side, watching closely for any sign of discomfort or fatigue. At several moments, the princess could be seen adjusting the nasal cannula that provides her with supplemental oxygen, and she had to contend with a coughing fit she tried to manage discreetly. The scene offered a clear glimpse of the respiratory difficulties the princess is dealing with, underscoring her fragile state of health.
A break from tradition for medical reasons
It also drew attention that Mette-Marit wasn’t wearing the traditional bunad, as she does every May 17, in keeping with custom. There’s a medical reason for that. The Royal Household confirmed that this year she wouldn’t be able to wear any of her regional costumes, usually from Aust-Agder or Rogaland, on her doctors’ advice. Instead, the princess opted for a coat, even though temperatures in Oslo were ideal for the traditional attire worn by both Prince Haakon and their son, Prince Sverre Magnus.
© Getty ImagesSverre Magnus’s gesture for his mother at the Royal Palace
During the balcony appearance at the Royal Palace in Oslo, the princess had her portable oxygen unit with her, connected to the nasal cannula she used throughout the day. According to NRK, it was Prince Sverre Magnus who brought the device up to the balcony and set it beside her, just as he had done earlier at Skaugum. Both the cannula and the oxygen unit provide the essential support she needs to manage the effects of her lung condition.
© Getty ImagesA chair had also been set up on the balcony so the princess could rest between greetings, a precaution shared by King Harald and Queen Sonja as well. This year, 120 schools from Oslo paraded past the Palace, stretching the ceremony to more than an hour. Mette-Marit had to interrupt the greetings and quietly step back inside the Palace to rest, as reported by Aftenposten.
A visible reminder of a chronic illness
It’s worth remembering that Princess Mette-Marit has chronic pulmonary fibrosis, a diagnosis the Royal Household made public in 2018, describing it as a “limiting” illness. It has forced her to scale back her official schedule and, in recent months, to use a nasal cannula. A visible reminder of her chronic condition, one that on Norway’s National Day felt more evident than ever.
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