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Upon the death of King Harald V, his son Crown Prince Haakon immediately ascended the throne as King Haakon VIII—and his wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, became Queen Mette-Marit.
Queen Mette-Marit is currently on sick leave, recovering after receiving a lung transplant in June. She was discharged from the hospital in July, and is not expected to carry out official engagements during the next six months as she undergoes physical rehabilitation. “I would like to thank everyone who make the choice to donate organs. Through organ donation, I have been given the gift of life. Words fail me as I try to express how profoundly grateful and humbled I am,” she said after her discharge, adding, “I deeply appreciate the care and consideration I have received from so many people across Norway during my illness. It has given me strength when I needed it the most.”
It’s as yet unclear what that Queen Mette-Marit’s health means for attending King Harald’s funeral. In addition King Haakon and Queen Mette-Marit’s coronation will likely be a more subdued affair, a consecration ceremony following in the tradition of his father and grandfather.
“We stand on something strong. We’ve been together for over 25 years, and we’ve built it in a way that keeps us united. When you marry, it’s for better and for worse,” Haakon said in an interview this past March about his wife, which largely focused on her ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein (translated from Norwegian). “On the good days, everything feels easy. But it’s during the difficult times, when you have to weather the storm, that a strong foundation matters most. This is our project; we’re in it together. And Mette is caring, wise, and very strong. That’s why I always want her on my team when challenges arise.”
Despite the fact that Mette-Marit is now queen, her son, Marius Borg Høiby, still is not a member of the royal family, and will not receive any titles. He has been in the news this year after he was convicted of two rapes, assaulting his former girlfriend, and a number of other offenses totaling 34 charges. Marius is now on house arrest as he appeals some of the charges and his four year sentence. As of this writing, his detention runs to September 7 but the police and courts can chose to extend it.
King Haakon said of his stepson earlier this year, “Marius Borg Høiby is not a member of the Royal House of Norway and is therefore autonomous. We care about him, and he is an important member of our family.”
Emily Burack (she/her) is the Deputy Digital Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, celebrities, the royals, and a wide range of other topics. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms.