'I'm exhausted': Crown Princess on living with rare lung condition

Norway's Crown Princess has opened up about living with a rare lung condition that has caused her to cut down on her royal duties.

Princess Mette-Marit, who married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001, says she is "exhausted".

"I am exhausted faster than before, so today I have to take more care of myself than I did before," the 46-year-old told Norwegian television network NRK.

In 2018, Mette-Marit announced she was suffering from a rare chronic lung disease known as pulmonary fibrosis.

The condition causes scarring on the lungs and makes breathing increasingly difficult.

Mette-Marit, who is a mother of three, said she must take daily medications to keep on top of her illness.

But, on the upside, it has allowed the Crown Princess to have some much-needed time away from official duties.

"I can decide more about my everyday life and I realise how good it is to me, I can just go for a walk and have more time to read, life has slowed down," Mette-Marit told NRK.

"I am well aware of my state of health, but I do not want him [the disease] to get so much attention from outside, which is one of the reasons why I like my 'new little life' so much."

In an official statement released by the Norwegian royal family last year, Mette-Marit 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."

Princess Mette-Marit met Prince Haakon at a garden party held during a music festival in 1999; at the time, she was a single mother to son Marius.

The couple announced their engagement after dating for a year, and married in August 2001.

They have since welcomed two children: Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 15, and Prince Sverre Magnus, 13.