Norway’s Princess Ingrid Alexandra is returning home from Australia as her mother’s health deteriorates.

The 22-year-old royal, who began a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Sydney in August last year, has paused her studies to be with her mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit.

Princess Ingrid Alexandra’s father, Crown Prince Haakon, who has also cut short an official visit to Japan due to concerns about his wife’s health, confirmed on Monday that the princess would soon return to Norway.

“She plans to come home soon. It has to do with the family situation. That she wants to be with her mother,” Crown Prince Haakon told reporters in Tokyo.

“She plans to complete her studies in Australia, but we’ll have to come back to how long she stays home.”

Mette-Marit was diagnosed with chronic pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, a progressive lung disease that causes scarring of the lungs and shortness of breath.

There is no cure for the condition, and the Norwegian royal palace has previously revealed the future queen is preparing for the possibility of a lung transplant.

Last week, Crown Prince Haakon said his wife’s condition had worsened.

“The Crown Princess is seriously ill, and I think she has gotten a bit worse lately,” he told local broadcaster NRK.

“So I am worried about her health. 

“She uses oxygen in her everyday life and it helps a little but it is not a perfect solution.”

Princess Ingrid Alexandra is second in line to the Norwegian throne after her father.

Since moving to Sydney last year, she has been studying international relations and political economy while living on campus at St Andrew’s College.

Before beginning her studies, the princess said she was looking forward to gaining new perspectives on global politics.

“I’m looking forward to starting my studies at the University of Sydney. It will be exciting to become a student, and I’m looking forward to gaining new perspectives on both European and international politics. I’m sure that I will learn a lot,” she said.

It remains unclear how long the princess will stay in Norway before returning to Australia to complete her studies.