Princess Ingrid Alexandra returns to Norway to be with her mother as concerns grow for health of Crown Princess Mette-Marit

Princess Ingrid Alexandra was photographed at an Australian airport on Tuesday afternoon as she cuts short her studies to return home to her ailing mother.

As Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s health deteriorates due to the effects of chronic pulmonary fibrosis, her only daughter has chosen to cut short her time at the University of Sydney to be with her.

Crown Prince Haakon announced the news in Tokyo, where he is currently on an official visit. “She plans to come home soon. It has to do with the family situation. She wants to be with her mother,” he told reporters.

He added that Princess Ingrid Alexandra does plan to return to the University of Sydney at some point in the future, but could not pinpoint how long she’ll be back in Norway. “How long she will stay home, we will have to come back to that.”

The future queen is a first-year student in Sydney, reading for a bachelor’s degree in international relations and political economy.

Crown Prince Haakon also cut short his visit to Tokyo so he could return home to his wife earlier. His Japanese visit was originally slated for 1-4 June but was reduced by a day to accommodate his need to return home.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit has been photographed in recent months with a nasal cannula and an oxygen tank, and does not attend many royal engagements due to her health.

Shortly before the holidays last December, the Norwegian Royal Court announced that her condition has deteriorated to the point that a lung transplant is on the table, though no announcements have been made on if she is currently on a transplant list.

Crown Prince Haakon confirmed how seriously ill his wife is to reporters at the end of May, noting that her health had “deteriorated recently” and that it was up to her medical team to decide when to pursue a lung transplant. “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.”

It’s been a trying few months for the Norwegian Royal Family, health-wise, as both Queen Sonja and Princess Astrid were hospitalised with health issues. Queen Sonja was admitted to the Rikshospitalet with heart fibrillations and heart failure last week but has since been released and is carrying out light engagements.

Princess Astrid was also admitted to the Rikshospitalet for heart failure in mid-May and had previously been hospitalised in March for pneumonia.