Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway is returning home to be with her "seriously ill" mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, her father Crown Prince Haakon has revealed.
"She plans to come home soon. It has to do with the family situation. She wants to be with her mother," Haakon said of his daughter during a recent press conference in Japan, according to Norwegian broadcaster NRK.
"She plans to complete her studies in Australia, but we’ll have to come back to how long she stays home," the royal confirmed. Ingrid Alexandra, 22, has been studying abroad at Australia's prestigious University of Sydney since August 2025 where she is undertaking a three-year degree in social sciences. She has been living on campus in university accommodation.
© NTB/AFP via Getty ImagesMette-Marit's declining health
The young royal's decision to return home comes after Haakon shared last week that his wife, who was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, was "seriously ill" and had "gotten a bit worse lately". The royal told local media he was "worried about her health".
"She uses oxygen in her everyday life, and that helps a bit. 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," he shared, adding that his wife is on the waiting list for a lung transplant, but is not sure when this will take place.
Haakon cut his trip to Japan short over his wife's declining health, with the Palace issuing a statement on the decision: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is shortening his official trip to Japan by one day due to the health situation of Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess."
Princess Ingrid Alexandra's study abroad
Ingrid Alexandra previously returned home in December after completing her first term of studies in Sydney.
The royal told NRK that she was "enjoying it very much so far" and admitted, "Sydney was the right choice for me".
"I definitely think that my education will be very relevant to the job I will do in the future," the future Queen of Norway said of her studies in international relations and political economy.
