Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway marked their silver wedding anniversary in private on August 25 as King Harald V remained hospitalised.
The Norwegian royal palace shared a previously unpublished photograph of the couple on social media to commemorate 25 years since their wedding at Oslo Cathedral on August 25, 2001. A second online post featured archive photographs from their honeymoon on a beach in Long Island in the United States, accompanied by a message expressing their gratitude.
Their wedding attire was displayed throughout the summer at the Royal Palace in the Norwegian capital of Oslo.
Health setbacks force private anniversary gathering
The anniversary celebrations were kept private with family due to the health of both the princess and the monarch. Norwegian television channel NRK reported that a larger public event will take place at a later date when the health of the crown princess allows.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who has suffered for several years from an incurable lung disease, underwent a vital lung transplant in July, just weeks before turning 53. Her ongoing recovery has required her to pause official public duties and appearances.
The decision to hold a quiet celebration also marks respect for King Harald V, who has been hospitalised for a week to receive treatment for a blood infection. An official statement confirmed that the king's medical condition had degraded, leading members of the royal family to gather at his bedside over the weekend.
Controversies and public standing over 25 years
The union between Norway's future king and a commoner caused widespread public discussion when it was announced in 2001. Public scrutiny focused on the 28-year-old bride's ties to the house music scene during the 1990s.
On the eve of the wedding, the bride, who was then a single mother to a four-year-old son, held a press conference to address her background. She acknowledged a dissolute past and stated that she had lived through experiences for which she paid dearly, while taking the opportunity to publicly condemn illegal drugs.
Nicknamed the Cinderella of Kristiansand after her hometown in southern Norway, Mette-Marit gradually built strong public support. However, her approval ratings fell by half earlier this year following revelations linked to the Epstein affair and the conviction of her eldest son for rape.
