Overview
- On August 6 at Kulturkirken Jakob in Oslo, Mette-Marit sent one of the largest wreaths to the funeral of author Ingvar Ambjørnsen to honor their shared passion for literature.
- She publicly acknowledged the sudden July 24 passing of hat designer Mona Strand—known as “Hüte-Mona”—who was both her confidante and former Oslo neighbor.
- The princess has not issued personal statements but has relied on symbolic gestures to convey her private sorrow within her royal duties.
- Ambjørnsen died on July 19 at age 69 from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a loss that resonates with Mette-Marit’s own struggle against lung fibrosis.
- These back-to-back losses highlight the challenge she faces in balancing her public role with deeply personal grief.