Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit to miss Sweden’s King’s 80th birthday celebrations, weeks after Jeffrey Epstein revelations and worsening of chronic lung condition

Norway Crown Princess Mette-Marit will be absent next week from a major royal event expected to bring out heads of state throughout Europe and Scandinavia.

The controversial king has done that largely absent from public duties this year due to her deteriorating health, recent revelations about her past friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and the criminal trial against her son Marius Borg Hoiby.

Now the Royal House of Norway has confirmed that the Crown Princess will not attend the Celebrating the 80th birthday of the Swedish king on Thursday.

Only King Harald V and his wife Queen Sonja, together with heir apparent Crown Prince Haakon, will represent Norway at the festivities on April 30.

The King, Queen and Crown Prince will stay aboard the royal yacht Norge during their stay in Sweden, Royal House communications manager Guri Varpe said.

A fortnight ago, Crown Princess Mette-Marit attended an engagement at the Royal Palace in Oslo wearing a nasal cannula to help with oxygen flow.

It was the first time the 54-year-old was seen wearing the medical device. An assistant was seen behind her with what appeared to be a portable oxygen machine.

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Late last year, the royal family’s medical team said they had begun preparations to assess the disease princess for a lung transplant after her health recently deteriorated.

Mette-Marit was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, which causes scarring in the lungs and leads to reduced oxygen uptake.

In March, the Crown Princess did an interview with Norwegian national broadcaster NRK, which had to be limited to 20 minutes because she was unable to talk for an extended period of time.

Mette-Marit gave the interview to discuss recent revelations about her past friendship with the American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The Crown Princess’ name was mentioned more than 100 times in the Epstein files released earlier this year.

“It is incredibly important for me to take responsibility for not checking his background more carefully,” said Crown Princess says Mette-Marit.

“And to take responsibility for being as manipulated and deceived as I am.”

Crown Princess Mette-Marit also spoke briefly about her son’s criminal trial. Høiby is accused of rape and assault and prosecutors have recommended he receive seven years in prison. The verdict is expected to be handed down in June

“We are a family that has found itself in a very demanding situation in recent weeks,” said Mette-Marit.

“For us, the focus was mainly on the family. I am the mother of a young man who has been in a very demanding situation.

“Besides, I have a health condition that requires a lot of rest.”

The Swedish king turns 80 next week.

King Carl XVI Gustaf, who is Europe’s longest reigning monarch, is celebrated with a church service, military spectacle and public appearance.

A gala dinner will take place at the Royal Palace in Stockholm and guests will wear their finest outfits, royal orders and military uniforms, including tiaras for the women.

The king’s family will be present, among others Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel and their children Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia and their four children, and Princess Madeleine and Christopher O’Neill and their three children

King Frederick And Queen Mary of Denmark will travel to Sweden for the historic occasion.

They will be accompanied by Queen Margaret II and her younger sister Princess Benedkeek. Queen Margrethe and King Carl are cousins.

Other royals likely to attend the birthday celebrations include King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands and King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium.

The Spanish head of state, King Felipe V, and his wife Queen Letiziacan also be included, just like Monaco’s Prince Albert II And Princess Charleneand that of Japan Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.

King Charles And Queen Camillefrom Britain, will not be in Sweden for the king’s 80th birthday, as will be the case in the US for a state visit.

The Prince and Princess of Wales could attend instead, or the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh could intervene.

The late Queen Elizabeth II and King Carl XVI Gustaf were third cousins, related through Queen Victoria.

The last time Sweden hosted such a large gathering of visiting royals was for King Carl XVI Gustaf’s 70th birthday in 2016.

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