Mette-Marit has been appointed as the new queen of Norway, according to an official list published by the Royal House on Friday. Her daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, now stands at the head of the line of succession. After the passing of Harald V., Haakon automatically ascended as the new king; however, the path for his wife was not automatic.
King Haakon and Mette-Marit recently celebrated their silver wedding anniversary. Both have faced difficult times in recent years. Mette-Marit suffers from pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable condition that scars the lung tissue, and she has recently been seen in public using a breathing apparatus.
Furthermore, Mette-Marit drew criticism earlier this year regarding her friendship with the American sexual offender Jeffrey Epstein. Published emails revealed a multi-year relationship between the two, a connection she has publicly expressed regret over. Additionally, her son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Höiby, has been in the news. He was sentenced to four years in prison for several offenses, including rape, though the verdict has not yet been legally finalized.
