Noway\u2019s long-troubled royal family could finally reassemble this week after the past few years of scandal, serious illness and criminal offenses. Crown Princess Mette-Marit was released from hospital, her two youngest adult children have been home for the summer and her oldest son Marius Borg H\u00f8iby was released from prison, just as Norway itself was celebrating the country\u2019s national football team\u2019s success at the World Cup.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m deeply grateful,\u201d<\/strong> the crown princess stated after her official release from the National Hospital (Rikshospitalet)<\/em> in Oslo. She underwent a lung transplant<\/a> there in mid-June, and she thanked \u201ceveryone who makes the choice to donate organs.\u201d Organ donations have increased in Norway, and through them, she said, \u201cI have been given the gift of life.\u201d<\/p>\n Crown Princess Mette-Marit also thanked \u201ceveryone who has stood by me,\u201d including her family and \u201cthe doctors, surgeons, nurses, physiotherapists and other health care professionals.\u201d The entire royal family has been under enormous pressure after her lung fibrosis disease worsened at the same time of various illnesses plaguing her in-laws King Harald and Queen Sonja. Then came news of her controversial ties to the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, just as her oldest son Marius Borg H\u00f8iby went on trial in Oslo on multiple counts<\/a> of rape, assault, vandalism and drug charges.<\/p>\n H\u00f8iby, age 29, was also allowed to return home this week to the crown couple\u2019s royal estate at Skaugum, west of Oslo. He\u2019s been held in jail since just before his trial began in February, and prosecutors sought to keep in him custody pending his appeal of a four-year jail term handed down last month<\/a>. H\u00f8iby is a repeat offender and prosecutors were especially worried he\u2019d contact one of his former partners and victims.<\/p>\n The Oslo court, however, decided H\u00f8iby could carry out the rest of his confinement at the house he\u2019s been allowed to use on the royal estate, with a foot link that restricts his movements. Prosecutors decided to drop further appeals and H\u00f8iby was released on Tuesday from the high-security prison at Ila where he\u2019d most recently been confined.<\/p>\n That brought mother and son home at the same time,<\/strong> even though prosecutors stated they were still concerned he\u2019d \u201cfall back to drugs, take up contact with the \u2018Frogner woman\u2019 and assault her again.\u201d H\u00f8iby is confined to the house at Skaugum, but can use electronic communications including telephone and computer devices. He can also receive visitors.<\/p>\n Newspaper Aftenposten<\/em> and other media reported that he\u2019s also, however, obliged to go through a program called \u201cRisk\u201d that\u2019s conducted by police and aims to reduce the risk of new offenses. He\u2019s not allowed to consume drugs or alcohol.<\/p>\n H\u00f8iby himself had appealed in court on the grounds his family \u201chas gone through a tough period\u201d with everyone \u201cthere for mamma.\u201d He called it \u201cincredibly difficult\u201d to not be able to do the same.<\/p>\n Now H\u00f8iby, who has no royal title since he was born before the former Mette-Marit Tjessem H\u00f8iby met Crown Prince Haakon, he will be able to be with other family members during the crown princess\u2019 recovery period.<\/p>\n Her recovery can take up to a year. Dr Are Holm, head of the department of respiratory medicine at Rikshospitalet<\/em>, described her condition as being \u201cas good as can be expected under the circumstances.\u201d Holm said Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who will turn 53 in August, will need to undergo physical rehabilitation over the next six months and be closely monitored for possible complications, \u201cincluding rejection (of her new lungs) and infections.\u201d Holm said it can take a year \u201cbefore the patient\u2019s condition enters a more stable phase.\u201d<\/p>\n The crown princess is not expected<\/strong> to carry out official duties during her rehabilitation, the palace stated. Crown Prince Haakon \u201cwill continue to carry out official engagements during this period,\u201d the palace stated, \u201cbut will make some adjustments to spend time with the crown princess.\u201d It\u2019s also expected that Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Norway\u2019s heir to the throne after her father, will also take on new duties during the time ahead.<\/p>\n Crown Prince Haakon called it \u201ca great relief\u201d to have his wife home from the hospital. \u201cWe are all very happy that the initial phase has gone as well as it has,\u201d he stated. \u201cWe are also incredibly impressed by Oslo University Hospital.<\/p>\n \u201cAlthough we know that there is a long period of recovery ahead of us, and that complications may arise, it feels very good to have come this far.\u201d Formal celebrations of the couple\u2019s Silver Wedding Anniversary next month have been postponed.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsinenglish.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Det_Kongelige_Hoff_Presse-bilder_Fotball-VM-2026-scaled-e1783988412151.jpg\")
<\/a><\/a>