Princess Mette Marit
Rarely open words about her serious illness
Prince Sverre Magnus, Prince Haakon, Princess Mette-Marit and Princess Ingrid Alexandra
© Dana Press
Princess Mette-Marit has been suffering from chronic pulmonary fibrosis for five years. Prince Haakon’s wife rarely opens up and reveals details about her state of health. On the occasion of her 50th birthday she makes an exception.
On the occasion of their big 50th birthdays, Prince Haakon and Princess Mette-Marit are more open than ever. After the Crown Prince of Norway spoke about his wife’s “serious illness” and declared that whe well she “breathes is different”, she has now given a health update on her chronic pulmonary fibrosis.
Princess Mette-Marit: “There are many things that are painful, difficult and hard”
It’s been almost five years since Princess Mette-Marit was diagnosed. What kind of In October 2018, the court did not announce whether she had pulmonary fibrosis. But what is certain: Your lungs have less volume to breathe. The result is often shortness of breath and faster exhaustion. Since then, Mette-Marit’s resilience has varied, and she often has to cancel appointments at short notice on behalf of the crown. “How well she breathes varies from time to time. What is difficult one day can be good the next day,” said Prince Haakon in a birthday interview a few weeks ago the leading Norwegian newspaper “Aftenposten”, quoted by “VG”.
A condition that is not always easy for the future Queen of Norway to bear. In an interview with the Norwegian TV station “NRK” she looks deeply and says: “There are many things that are painful, difficult and hard”. Nevertheless, she tries to get something positive out of it and explains:
At the same time, there is something very beautiful about it, because you are really confronted with yourself. You have to take yourself a lot more seriously. And then you have to slow down, which I’ve done a lot.
Mette-Marit can no longer cheat in life
So her chronic illness is a good opportunity to stop and live a little slower. Mette-Marit’s life had to change completely. “I can no longer cheat and just think: ‘It will work out,'” the crown princess is certain today. She is currently feeling “surprisingly well”. She is “very happy, in good shape and working a lot now.” Mette-Marit is aware of a situation that can change quickly.
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your special challenge
A particular challenge for her was that others could not see her illness. Prince Haakon’s wife says:
For many people like me living with a chronic illness that is hard to see, it can be very draining, especially on the days when it is very difficult. Because if you don’t see it, it’s hard to understand. I have gained a new respect for other chronically ill people.
But Princess Mette-Marit no longer wanted to deal so much with the expectations of others. Age taught her that. Today she can live better in the “here and now” and look at her strengths, which she also has with her illness.
What that means? She tries not to get bogged down in the negative, but to focus on “what [sie] can achieve with the limitations”. An admirable attitude.
Sources used: Dana Press, nrk.no, opftenposten.no, vg.no