Crown Princess pictured after lung transplant for the first time as she cheers on Norway in World Cup victory
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway has been pictured for the first time since undergoing a lung transplant in early June, appearing in photographs as she cheered her country to World Cup victory.
The 52-year-old Crown Princess was shown sitting alongside her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, at their official residence in Oslo, wrapped in a red Norway scarf. In an astonishing 2-1 victory over Brazil, Norway secured their spot in the quarter-finals and will face England on Saturday in a semi-final clash.
The photographs showed the Crown Princess wearing a grey cardigan and jeans. Notably, she was not seen wearing an oxygen mask as she has done in recent months to assist with her breathing. Another image captured the prince and princess looking out of a window as the streets of Oslo erupted in celebration following the triumph.
The Crown Princess was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018 and had significantly reduced her royal engagements as her condition worsened. In early June, the Norwegian Royal Family announced that Mette-Marit had undergone surgery. The Royal Family stated: "Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit has undergone a successful lung transplant at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet in Oslo."
The family expressed their appreciation during this challenging period, saying: "The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess express their sincere gratitude for the many warm and kind messages they have received This means a great deal to them at this challenging time."
In late June, Queen Sonja spoke to local media in Kristiansand about the princess's recovery, saying: "It's simply fantastic It's fantastic that it went so well."
While their parents watched from home, the Crown Princess's children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, travelled to New Jersey to watch the game from the stadium stands. The siblings cheered as Norway claimed victory, later making their way into the Norway locker rooms to congratulate the team on their win.