Symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis as harsh disease see Norway's Crown Princess 'seriously ill' and ‘getting worse’

The Crown Princess of Norway, Mette Marit, is 'seriously ill', according to her husband, Crown Prince Haakon.

Speaking to reporters after presenting the Abel Prize award in Oslo earlier this week on Tuesday (26 May), Prince Haakon revealed that the health of Princess Marit is also reportedly 'getting worse'.

"The Crown Princess is seriously ill, and I think she has gotten a bit worse lately," he told the press.

"So I am worried about her health. She uses oxygen in her everyday life, and that helps a bit."

Prince Haakon continued: "And these six months have gone pretty well, I think. But there are different phases. So we just have to try to solve it as best we can."

Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway, is 'seriously ill' and 'getting worse' (Per Ole Hagen/Getty Images)

Princess Marit, who shares two children with her husband, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, as well as Marius Borg Høiby from a previous marriage, was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018.

Later that year, the Palace announced that her condition had gotten worse and she is currently on the waiting list for a lung transplant.

However, Prince Haakon is not yet sure when this will take place.

"It's up to the doctors, it's a medical question," he said. "So they're the ones who decide when it should happen, when it's right. But I think she's gotten a lot worse lately, unfortunately."

What is pulmonary fibrosis?

Asthma + Lung UK explains that pulmonary fibrosis is the buildup of scar tissue in your lungs, which can make breathing increasingly difficult.

Some types of pulmonary fibrosis have an identifiable cause; for many types, a definite cause cannot be found.

"Although we do not always know what causes pulmonary fibrosis, we do know it is not a form of cancer or cystic fibrosis, and it’s not contagious," the experts outline.

Pulmonary fibrosis is the buildup of scar tissue in your lungs, which can make breathing increasingly difficult (Getty Stock Images)

What are the symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis?

The main symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis are:

• breathlessness
• a cough that doesn’t go away
• feeling tired all the time
• clubbing of fingers and toes.

"The first symptom a lot of people notice is getting out of breath when they’re exerting themselves, such as climbing a hill or stairs," the experts explain. "But you might feel constantly short of breath, and not just when you’re moving about."

The health body adds that many forms of pulmonary fibrosis tend to occur after the age of 60, so some people 'wrongly think they’re getting breathless because they’re getting older'.

"Don’t assume this is the case - it may well get worse if it’s not treated," Asthma + Lung UK urge. "A cough that doesn’t go away and feeling very tired all the time are two other symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis."