Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway remains absent from official royal duties, with her final public appearance dating back to January 28 when she attended centenary celebrations at Fredrikstad Library.
The wife of heir apparent Crown Prince Haakon has no forthcoming engagements listed in the royal calendar, palace officials have confirmed.
Her withdrawal from public life coincided with the release of fresh Epstein-related documentation.
On January 30, the US Department of Justice published three million additional files concerning the disgraced financier, which contained correspondence suggesting the Crown Princess told Jeffrey Epstein he "tickle(s) my brain" and referenced "wife hunting".
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway remains absent from official royal duties, with her final public appearance dating back to January 28 when she attended centenary celebrations at Fredrikstad Library.
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In February, Crown Princess Mette-Marit issued an apology following revelations that she had seemingly maintained email correspondence with the disgraced financier over a three-year period despite being aware of his criminal past.
"I showed poor judgment and I deeply regret having had any contact with Epstein. It is simply embarrassing," the Crown Princess said in a statement through the royal palace.
The documents reveal that their email exchanges occurred between 2011 and 2014.
The Norwegian Royal House has attributed her ongoing absence to deteriorating health rather than the Epstein revelations.
The wife of heir apparent Crown Prince Haakon has no forthcoming engagements listed in the royal calendar, palace officials have confirmed.
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Palace communications manager Guri Varpe confirmed to TV2: "As is known, the Crown Princess has the chronic disease pulmonary fibrosis.
“As we communicated in December, there has been a clear negative development in the Crown Princess's health recently, and preparations have begun with a view to an assessment for a lung transplant."
Varpe added: "The Crown Princess has an increasing need for tailored training, rest and recovery, and her official program is adapted to her health condition."
The Crown Princess first received her pulmonary fibrosis diagnosis in 2018 and has faced mounting health challenges since.
The Crown Princess first received her pulmonary fibrosis diagnosis in 2018 and has faced mounting health challenges since.
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Her condition deteriorated last year, prompting a month-long absence from duties in October whilst she undertook pulmonary rehabilitation treatment.
Medical preparations are now underway for a potential lung transplant procedure.
Meanwhile, Crown Prince Haakon has maintained his schedule of official engagements despite his wife's illness.
During a visit to Elcare Nordic in Kongsvinger on Monday, the heir to the Norwegian throne declined to respond when journalists enquired about the Crown Princess's condition.
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