Crown Princess Mette-Marit is the future Queen of Norway who caused a stir when she joined the royal family upon her marriage to Crown Prince Haakon in 2001.
Following her father-in-law King Harald's death at the age of 89, Mette-Marit will become Norway's Queen when her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, ascends the throne.
The former Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby came from humble beginnings, starting out as a waitress before a self-proclaimed period of rebellion.
© GettyNow the Crown Princess uses her royal platform to champion causes close to her heart and has become the recipient of several national and foreign honours.
© GettyLearn about the royal's fascinating and varied life in full…
Before Mette-Marit became a royal
Much like Princess Kate and Queen Mary, Crown Princess Mette-Marit did not grow up in royal circles. Her mother and father had worked in small-scale advertising and as a former bank clerk respectively.
© GettyThe royal grew up in Kristiansand loving sport, taking up sailing whilst on family holidays. She also qualified as a volleyball referee and was an active member of her local youth group.
Unfortunately, Mette-Marit's family was struck by tragedy. Her half-brother Trond Berntsen was killed in the 2011 Norway attacks. She has a sister and another brother - Per Høiby, the CEO of one of the Nordic region’s leading strategic communication advisory firms.
© GettyMette-Marit's education saw her attending Wangaratta High School located in Australia as an exchange student before attending Kristiansand Cathedral School back in Norway. A keen traveller, the Princess also spent time working for the Norwegian-British Chamber of Commerce at Norway House in London.
Mette-Marit's royal relationship
Crown Princess Mette-Marit was not necessarily the person envisioned to marry the future King of Norway. Her past meant that their relationship was considered unconventional.
© GettyMette-Marit had planned to marry her ex-partner John Ognby, a man convicted of drug-related offences. However, when she met Haakon she was a single mother who had welcomed a child with Morten Borg, one of Ognby's friends who was also a convicted criminal.
© GettyThe royal pair met in July 1999 at a music festival and she was dubbed the 'Cinderella from Kristiansand' by the Norwegian press. The couple faced some backlash before the wedding as the now Princess was seen as an improper choice due to her lack of formal education and royal heritage.
© GettyHowever, the pair pushed through the noise, announcing their engagement in 2000.
Mette-Marit and Haakon's wedding day
© GettyMette-Marit and Haakon wed on 25 August 2001 having previously lived together. The Princess looked stunning in a corseted gown with a square neckline and long sleeves. Her hair was worn up with the front swept to one side.
© GettyPerched atop her head was the stunning bandeau of diamond diaises tiara which was gifted to the royal from her in-laws King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway. Though the piece is not a family heirloom, it does date back a century.
Her flowers were also unconventional. The bride carried a garland of rosary vine as opposed to a traditional bouquet. The trailing flowers mirrored her 20-foot-long train beautifully. Meanwhile, her new husband donned black military uniform.
© GettyMette-Marit's three children
Mette-Marit and Haakon have welcomed two children together - Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 22, and Prince Sverre Magnus, 20.
© GettyIngrid was born in 2004 at The National Hospital in Oslo and was baptized three months later in the chapel of the Royal Palace. The Princess attended the Uranienborg School in Oslo before completing her schooling at Elvebakken Upper Secondary School.
© GettyAfter graduating from secondary school, Ingrid completed 15 months of military service with the Combat Engineer Battalion in Brigade Nord. In August 2025, she began a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Sydney, before returning to Oslo earlier this month for an exchange programme, during which she will study at the Faculty of Social Sciences.
Meanwhile, Prince Sverre was born in the same hospital as his sister in November 2005. The royal will begin a bachelor's degree in Business Management at Forward College in Lisbon this autumn. His studies will include subjects such as economics, statistics and accounting. After one year in Lisbon, Sverre will continue his studies in Paris and Berlin.
Mette-Marit's eldest son is Marius Borg Høiby, born in January 1997, who became Crown Prince Haakon's stepson after his mother married into the royal family. In June 2026, Marius was found guilty of two counts of rape and sentenced to four years in prison; however, his defence team has appealed the conviction.
© GettyMette-Marit's patronages
© GettySince becoming a royal, Crown Princess Mette-Marit has gone on to become the patron of many important causes. Her patronages include The Norwegian Council for Mental Health and The Norwegian Red Cross through to The Amandus Festival for film and the Nynorsk Cultural Centre.
Mette-Marit's health issues
The Norwegian royal family announced in 2018 that the Princess was suffering from a rare chronic lung disease – a rare form of fibrosis that causes the lungs to scar, making breathing difficult.
© Getty ImagesAt the time the optimistic royal said: "Although such a diagnosis will limit my life at times, I'm glad that the disease has been discovered so early. My goal is still to work and participate in the official programme as much as possible."
In June, the Crown Princess underwent a life-changing lung transplant after her pulmonary fibrosis worsened.
Mette-Marit's links to Jeffrey Epstein
The Crown Princess came under intense scrutiny after her name appeared multiple times in the Epstein files, released in January 2026.
In emails released by the US Department of Justice, Mette-Marit was shown to have extensive contact with the late financier between 2011 and 2014. These included arranging trips and meetings, as well as references to "wife hunting". She also admitted to borrowing Epstein's home in Palm Beach in Florida, for several days in 2013.
© NRKIn March 2026, Mette-Marit told Norwegian outlet NRK that she had been "manipulated and deceived" by Jeffrey Epstein during their friendship, adding that she "didn't know" who he really was.
