Royal forced to cancel major upcoming trip due to medical advice

Crown Princess Mette-Marit has been forced to cancel her upcoming trip to the US due to advice from her medical team. The Norwegian royal had been due to join her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, 52, in the US from October 6-9, but will no longer be going.

The royal palace said in a statement: "The Crown Princess has currently been advised not to travel to the United States due to her chronic lung condition." The 52-year-old was diagnosed with the chronic illness, pulmonary fibrosis, in 2018. The condition has forced her to limit the number of public engagements she undertakes to safeguard her health.

In March, the palace confirmed that her condition had worsened, which was likely to impact her official duties.

A statement read: "The Crown Princess has daily symptoms and ailments that affect her ability to perform her duties. The Crown Princess needs more rest, and her daily routine changes more quickly than before.

"This means that changes to her official schedule may occur more frequently, and at shorter notice than we are used to.

"The Crown Princess has a strong desire to continue working, and therefore we will organize her official program in the future in the best possible way so that her health and work can be combined."

The royal visit to the US is to mark the 200th anniversary of the first Norwegian emigration to the US, visiting the states of Iowa, Minnesota and New York.