Crown Princess Metter-Marit of Norway’s chronic lung condition has “progressed” and will thus result in further changes to her daily routine and schedule, the Norwegian royal house announced on Thursday. The 51-year-old was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, an illness that causes the thickening of lung tissue, back in 2018 and has had to adjust her workload since then.

In a new statement on Thursday, Norway’s palace gave an update on her health. It said that she has “daily symptoms and ailments that affect her ability to perform her duties” and that since the condition has “progressed,”changes to her official schedule “may occur more frequently”. But it added that Metter-Marit remains focused on her royal duties.

The statement read: “Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s chronic disease pulmonary fibrosis has progressed.

“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 organise her official program in the future in the best possible way so that her health and work can be combined.”

Around the time of her diagnosis, Mette-Marit said: “For a number of years, I have had health challenges on a regular basis, and now we know more about what is involved. The condition means that my working capacity will vary.”

She added: “The Crown Prince and I are choosing to make this public now partly because in the future there will be a need to plan periods of time without an official programme to accommodate treatment and when the disease is more active.”