Queen Mette-Marit of Norway has spoken about the comfort she finds in weaving as she continues to face serious health challenges and the fallout from her son’s criminal convictions.
The Norwegian Royal House shared a portrait of the 53-year-old Queen on Instagram, accompanied by a statement she wrote for the Threads of Time – From Royal Steppes to Royal Carpet exhibition at the Dronning Sonja KunstStall museum in Oslo.
“When I sit down at the loom, everything calms down,” Mette-Marit said, describing how the craft allows her to slow down and find space to recharge.
She added that weaving requires patience and cannot be rushed, offering people valuable time and space away from the demands of everyday life.
The Queen also reflected on the historical importance of textiles in Norway, noting that weaving has been practised in the country for thousands of years and has produced everything from everyday items to works of art.
Exhibition Showcases Royal Textiles Dating Back to 1899
The exhibition, which reopened to the public on October 15, features artworks from royal collections spanning the period between 1899 and 1955.
Mette-Marit previously discussed her interest in weaving with Norsk Husflid in 2024, revealing that she took up the craft shortly before the coronavirus pandemic began in 2020.
She also disclosed that she had given one of her tapestries to her mother-in-law, Queen Sonja of Norway.
Her latest comments offer a glimpse into an activity she has continued to value while dealing with her prolonged absence from public engagements.
Queen Remains Away From Royal Duties After Lung Transplant
Mette-Marit suspended her official duties in July as her chronic pulmonary fibrosis worsened, with the Norwegian royal court confirming that she would require an extended period of rehabilitation following a lung transplant.
Her condition had deteriorated considerably over the preceding six months, leading doctors to place her on a transplant waiting list earlier in the summer.
The procedure was considered a last resort, with doctors believing that patients in such circumstances could have less than two years to live without new lungs.
Following the operation, the Royal House of Norway announced that the transplant had been successful and that her recovery had progressed well.
However, the palace indicated that her rehabilitation and training would take an extended period, initially providing no further updates.
No official return to royal duties has been scheduled before next summer.
The Queen also missed her husband’s swearing-in ceremony in September after experiencing complications related to the transplant.
She was likewise unable to attend a church memorial service for her late father-in-law.
Mette-Marit has not appeared publicly since the funeral of Princess Astrid of Norway on September 23.
Epstein Association Adds to Pressure on the Norwegian Queen
The Queen has also faced scrutiny over her past association with the late American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Documents released as part of the Epstein files revealed that she stayed at his Palm Beach residence in 2013, years after his conviction for soliciting sex from underage girls.
Mette-Marit said this year that Epstein had misled her as she sought to address the controversy surrounding their association.
The revelations have added to the difficulties facing the Norwegian Royal Family as it deals with the legal case involving her son, Marius Borg Høiby.
Marius Borg Høiby Remains Under House Arrest Pending Appeal
Høiby, 29, is currently under house arrest while appealing a four-year prison sentence linked to two rape convictions.
In June, an Oslo court found him guilty of rape, assaulting his former girlfriend Nora Haukland, making threats and committing traffic offences.
He was acquitted of two other rape charges, while one charge involving a restraining-order violation was overturned.
The case followed allegations that Høiby had sexually assaulted four women who were asleep or otherwise unable to resist between 2018 and 2024.
He faced a total of 40 charges, including allegations of rape, assault, breaches of restraining orders, drug offences and driving violations.
During the trial, investigators presented more than 800 messages and several videos recorded by Høiby showing sexual encounters.
The court also heard evidence concerning his escalating drug addiction and was told that one alleged rape had taken place in the basement of the family home.
Høiby denied the most serious allegations, including rape, while admitting to some lesser offences.
He joined the proceedings by video link rather than attending court in person when the verdict was delivered.
Judge Jon Sverdrup Efjestad handed down the sentence following the proceedings.
Royal Family Faces Scrutiny Over Høiby’s Place in Family Events
Høiby grew up in the public eye after his mother married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001, when he was four years old.
Although he has no royal title and does not perform official duties, he has long been associated with the Norwegian Royal Family.
Mette-Marit and Haakon were photographed visiting him in custody ahead of his sentencing in June. Neither attended the high-profile trial.
On August 31, Høiby joined members of the family in carrying the coffin of his step-grandfather from the Royal Palace to the palace chapel.
He was among eight people carrying the coffin, alongside King Haakon, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Prince Sverre Magnus, Princess Märtha Louise and her three daughters, Maud, Leah and Emma Behn.
His appearance at the ceremony drew criticism from some royal supporters.
At King Harald V’s funeral in September, Høiby was seated in the row behind his relatives, alongside Princess Märtha Louise and her daughters.
A video subsequently shared on X also drew attention to an interaction involving Queen Sonja, Harald’s widow.
The 89-year-old was seen embracing Märtha Louise’s daughters, who had arrived alongside Høiby, before turning to speak with the Bishop of Oslo, Sunniva Gylver, when he appeared to approach her for a greeting.
The episode prompted speculation about the interaction between Høiby and his step-grandmother.
As the legal proceedings surrounding Høiby continue, Mette-Marit remains focused on her recovery from the lung transplant, with weaving providing her a source of calm during a difficult period for both her health and her family.
