Princess Ingrid Alexandra was photographed at an Australian
airport on Tuesday afternoon as she cuts short her studies to
return home to her ailing mother.
As Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s health deteriorates due to the
effects of chronic pulmonary fibrosis, her only daughter has chosen
to cut short her time at the University of Sydney to be with
her.
Crown Prince Haakon announced the news in Tokyo, where he is
currently on an official visit. “She plans to come home soon.
It has to do with the family situation. She wants to be with her
mother,” he told reporters.
He added that
Princess Ingrid Alexandra does plan to return to the University of
Sydney at some point in the future, but could not pinpoint how long
she’ll be back in Norway. “How long she will stay home, we will
have to come back to that.”
The future queen is a first-year student in Sydney, reading for
a bachelor’s degree in international relations and political
economy.
Crown Prince Haakon also cut short his visit to Tokyo so he
could return home to his wife earlier. His Japanese visit was
originally slated for 1-4 June but was reduced by a day to
accommodate his need to return home.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit has been photographed in recent
months with a nasal cannula and an oxygen tank, and does not attend
many royal engagements due to her health.
Shortly before the holidays last December, the Norwegian Royal
Court announced that her condition has deteriorated to the point
that a lung transplant is on the table, though no announcements
have been made on if she is currently on a transplant list.
Crown Prince Haakon confirmed how seriously ill his wife
is to reporters at the end of May, noting that her health had
“deteriorated recently” and that it was up to her medical
team to decide when to pursue a lung transplant. “They’re the
ones who decide when it should happen, when it’s right. But I think
she’s gotten a lot worse lately, unfortunately.”
It’s been a trying few months for the Norwegian Royal Family,
health-wise, as both Queen Sonja and Princess Astrid were
hospitalised with health issues.
Queen Sonja was admitted to the Rikshospitalet with heart
fibrillations and heart failure last week but has since been
released and is carrying out light engagements.
Princess Astrid was also admitted to the Rikshospitalet for
heart failure in mid-May and had previously been hospitalised in
March for pneumonia.
