Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit marked their 25th wedding anniversary in private as the Norwegian royal family spent their summer vacation cruising aboard the Royal Yacht KS Norge without the couple, following Mette-Marit’s recent lung transplant and ongoing rehabilitation.
Norway’s royal couple marked their silver wedding anniversary quietly behind closed doors, opting for a private celebration rather than the grand public festivities originally planned by the palace. To commemorate the milestone, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit released a new photograph taken recently on the Skaugum estate.
The scaled-back observance stems from Mette-Marit’s major health procedure earlier this year. The Crown Princess underwent a lung transplant and is currently following a rehabilitation program, prompting the palace to postpone large-scale public celebrations to a later date. According to regional reports, organizers hope that King Harald—who has spent time hospitalized—might be able to attend the rescheduled public jubilee once her recovery progresses.
Summer Cruise Aboard the KS Norge
While the Crown Prince couple remained at home during the anniversary, other members of the royal family embarked on their annual summer holiday aboard the Royal Yacht, called the “Norge,” missing two prominent figures from the usual family roster.
Queen Sonja, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, and Prince Sverre Magnus joined Princess Märtha Louise alongside her daughters Leah Isadora Behn, Emma Tallulah Behn, and Maud Angelica Behn for a visit to Kunstsilo, a museum in Kristiansand. Photographers also captured King Harald disembarking from the vessel alongside Princess Märtha Louise’s husband, Durek Verrett, who was spotted on the deck.
Royal court communications adviser Anette Ask confirmed to regional media that the voyage was on a private voyage, and no further details would be shared.
A Long Road to Recovery
Prince Haakon offered reporters a brief update on his wife’s health outside official engagements, acknowledging the gradual pace of her healing process.
The future king added a frank assessment of their current household reality, emphasizing that recuperation requires patience after such an invasive medical procedure. Prince Haakon told reporters that it was the beginning of a pretty long road to recovery, Prince Haakon told reporters.
Tradition and Upcoming Duties at the Royal Palace
Originally a gift from the people of Norway to King Haakon VII, the vessel is now owned by King Harald. The monarch, Queen Sonja, and the wider family regularly utilize the vessel on private journeys as well as in connection with official engagements in Norway and abroad, flying the royal standard whenever the King and Queen are on board.
The royal family’s next scheduled engagement takes place on August 7, when King Harald is set to preside over the Council of State at the Royal Palace, with Prince Haakon expected to be in attendance.
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