Princess Märtha Louise of Norway

Template:Norwegian Royal Family Princess Märtha Louise of Norway (born 22 September 1971) is a member of the Norwegian royal family, but is not a member of the royal house and has no public role.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Märtha Louise is active within alternative therapy and spiritual practices, and is a self-described clairvoyant.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She is married to Durek Verrett.<ref name="thetimes24" />

A member of the House of Glücksburg, Märtha Louise was born in Oslo in 1971 to then-Prince Harald and the former commoner Sonja Haraldsen. At the time she had no inheritance rights to the Norwegian throne. This changed in 1990, when she was included in the line of succession to the Norwegian throne, where she is currently fourth. Her father became king in 1991.<ref name="dagbladet" />

Märtha Louise is engaged in alternative therapy and spiritual practices.<ref name="dagbladet">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> From 2007 to 2018 she led her own alternative therapy centre, commonly known in Norway as the "angel school" (Template:Langx), which focused on clairvoyance and communication with angels and communication with the dead.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She was married to the writer and visual artist Ari Behn from 2002 to 2017. In May 2019, she publicly announced her romantic relationship and professional collaboration with Verrett, a conspiracy theorist<ref name=bbc2022/><ref name="thetimes2022">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=sky/> and self-described shaman<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> who has served time in prison<ref name=bunte>Template:Cite news</ref> and who has been characterized by Norwegian media and other critics as a conman.<ref name=bbc2022>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=sky>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="finansavisen">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="vantru">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Verrett was included as one of "20 famous conspiracy theorists" alongside David Icke and Alex Jones in an MSN article in 2024.<ref name=msn/> As part of her withdrawal into private professional life, Märtha Louise lost the style "Royal Highness" in 2002. While the lesser style of "Highness" is sometimes used informally abroad, she holds no style in Norway itself.

She has often faced criticism in Norway for her claims of being clairvoyant and for exploiting her constitutional role and title as princess commercially (for which she has been derided in Norway as prinsesse Mertakk av Pose og Sekk, "Princess Plenty More of Have-It-All").<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=mertakk>Template:Cite news</ref> There have been frequent calls for her to relinquish her royal title and place in the line of succession.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="auto" /><ref name=bbc2022/> She has become relatively unpopular in Norway and has developed an antagonistic relationship with the media, leading her to declare a total boycott of Norwegian media in 2024.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Early life

Märtha Louise was born on 22 September 1971 at The National Hospital the Oslo University Hospital in Oslo, to the then Crown Prince Harald and Crown Princess Sonja. Princess Märtha Louise was named after her late paternal grandmother and great-great-grandmother. At birth, she was not in line to the throne, because until 1990, only males could inherit the Norwegian throne. She was baptized a few months after her birth. Her godparents are King Olav V of Norway, Princess Margaretha of Sweden, Count Flemming of Rosenborg, Princess Ragnhild of Norway, Dagny Haraldsen, Haakon Haraldsen, Nils Jørgen Astrup and Ilmi Riddervold.

In 1973, Märtha Louise's younger brother, Haakon Magnus, was born. In 1990 the Norwegian constitution was altered, granting full cognatic primogeniture to the Norwegian throne, meaning that the eldest child, regardless of sex, takes precedence in the line of succession. The change affects only those born in 1990 or later. Females born between 1971 and 1990 (i.e. only Märtha Louise), were given succession rights, but their brothers would be before them in the line of succession, meaning that Prince Haakon still took precedence over Märtha Louise in the line of succession. After the births of her brother's two children, Ingrid Alexandra and Sverre Magnus, Märtha Louise was relegated to fourth in line.

Education and career

Template:Anchor Märtha Louise is a certified physiotherapist, following education in Oslo and internship in Maastricht, the Netherlands. She has not practised that profession, however, but established her own commercial entertainment business giving public and televised performances reciting folk tales and singing with well-known Norwegian choirs.<ref name="hola2002">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In December 2003, she took part in Oslo Gospel Choir's Christmas concert with a solo performance.

On 1 January 2002, Märtha Louise started her own business, in order to work with more freedom from her constitutional role as a princess. She began paying income tax, and the King, after consulting her, issued a royal edict that removed Märtha Louise's title of Royal Highness (she is conventionally accorded the lesser title Highness abroad, although this title has no legal standing in Norway).<ref name="hola2002" /> Märtha Louise retains her place in the line of succession.

After several postponements due to family births and her father's illness, during which the princess took on some representation duties, Princess Märtha Louise and her husband moved to New York City in October 2004. In 2004, her first book, a children's story about the first royal family of Norway was released – Why Kings and Queens Don't Wear Crowns.Template:Citation needed

Märtha Louise has studied physiotherapy, trained as a Rosen therapist, and studied at an academy for holistic medicine.<ref name="hola2002" /> She claims she can communicate with animals and angels and started her own alternative therapy center named Astarte Education, after one of the oldest goddesses in the Middle East.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Norway princess 'talks to angels', BBC News, 25 July 2007. Retrieved 25 July 2007</ref> Astarte Education offered a three-year course on healing, readings, and angels.<ref name="lewis">Template:Cite book</ref>

The princess drew criticism in Norway after the announcement that she would begin Astarte Education. In 2007, the newspaper Bergens Tidende called for her to give up her royal titles.<ref>BT Leder (13 August 2007): Dropp prinsessetittelen, Märtha Template:In lang Bergens Tidende. Retrieved 27 July 2013</ref> Norwegian state director of Health Lars E. Hanssen, Norwegian alternative medicine advocate Bernt Rognlien, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), religious historian Asbjørn Dyrendal and University of Oslo theology professor Inge Lønning all expressed misgivings about the princess's plans.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2015, Swedish author Jan Guillou questioned her mental health.Template:R

On 11 August 2007, Märtha Louise defended the school on NRK, the Norwegian public service television network. In the interview, she regarded her relationship with angels as "creatures of light, which gave her a feeling of a strong presence and a strong and loving support." She responded to criticism that she should leave the Church of Norway by stating she still considered herself a Christian that was thankful the Church still had room for her.<ref>Princess chastises media Template:Webarchive, Rolleiv Solholm, norwaypost.no, 12 August 2007.</ref>

On 2 October 2007, Princess Märtha Louise became the first member of the Norwegian royal family to ever appear in a court of law, as she wanted to halt sales of a book entitled Martha's Angels, which used her photo on its cover without permission. She stated that she felt "commercially exploited" by the book's use of her photo, which she regarded as misuse of her name and picture. Film critic Pål Bang-Hansen stated that Märtha Louise was a "thief and hypocrite", claiming that she had stolen translated texts from his father's books.<ref>Princess Martha Louise takes the witness stand Template:Webarchive Aftenposten, 2 October 2007.</ref>

In 2007, the Princess was editor of the book Prinsesse Märtha Louises eventyrlige verden, Eventyr fra jordens hjerte, Rodinia containing 67 fairy tales from 50 countries. In 2009, she and her Astarte Education partner Elisabeth Samnøy published Møt din skyttsengel (Meet your guardian angel), followed by Englenes hemmeligheter. Deres natur, språk og hvordan du åpner opp for dem (The secrets of angels: Their nature, language, and how you open up for them).Template:R

Princess Märtha Louise's Fund

Princess Märtha Louise at a 2006 book signing in Minnesota, US.

Her Royal Highness Princess Märtha Louise's Fund was founded on 15 September 1972 and awards funds to projects carried out by non-governmental organizations in order to provide assistance to disabled children under the age of 16 in Norway. Princess Märtha Louise is the fund's chairperson. In 2005, the fund had assets of approximately NOK 13,285,000, and total annual allocations came to about NOK 500,000.<ref>Royal House web page on the Princess' fund Retrieved 6 November 2007</ref>

Controversy

In 2014, Märtha Louise faced some criticism due to her association with British clairvoyant Lisa Williams. Williams was in Oslo on 14 September 2014 and gave a seminar for Soulspring, formerly known as the Angel School, which Märtha Louise co-founded. Williams is known for her claims that she can communicate with the deceased. The Soulspring website carried the following message: "We in Soulspring do not communicate with dead souls in our work. And here is where our work is separate from Lisa's. To be completely honest, we don't see the point of contacting the dead. They passed over to the other side for a reason and should be allowed to stay there." No one representing the royal family commented.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Märtha Louise has objected to claims that her second husband Durek Verrett didn't grow up wealthy and claimed that everyone was jealous of his family's wealth. Royal correspondent Tove Taalsen questioned why Märtha Louise places such emphasis on Verrett's alleged wealth as a child and wrote that it is out of touch with Norway's more egalitarian values.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The political editor of Nettavisen Erik Stephansen criticized Märtha Louise's complaints about the coverage of her and Verrett, and wrote that she has "actively sought the spotlight with her entire family, exploited the princess title in every conceivable way – including commercially – and is now fully engaged in milking her own glamorous celebrity wedding in Geiranger for all it's worth."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Märtha Louise has faced numerous calls to cease using the title "princess" commercially and to relinquish the title altogether in light of her controversial commercial activities. Norwegians have derided her as "Princess Plenty More of Have-It-All" (prinsesse Mertakk av Pose og Sekk).<ref name=mertakk/> Critics have pointed out that the title “Princess” is not a private or personal title that can be used for private profit, but is a constitutional, public title and role awarded under the Norwegian constitution, ultimately by the Norwegian state.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Editor David Stenerud wrote that Märtha "insists on being a Norwegian princess" and that this constitutional title is linked to a public role in Norway.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2019, the royal court announced that she would no longer use the title "Princess" in her business activities as a clairvoyant.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2022, she relinquished her remaining royal duties to concentrate on alternative medicine.Template:R She has been criticized for continually using the title and for disregarding an agreement not to use the title "Princess" or the family connection to the royal family in any commercial activities, interviews or other public activities.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A majority of Norwegians favored the removal of her title.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2024, Norwegian media reported on a year-long reputation management project to improve Verrett's reputation and that Märtha Louise and Verrett have demanded the removal of a quote by Prime Minister Erna Solberg that described his views as "very strange" and linked to conspiratorial thought.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Marriage and family

First marriage

On 24 May 2002, Princess Märtha Louise married author Ari Behn (1972–2019) in Trondheim.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>Template:Refn The couple had three daughters: Maud Angelica, Leah Isadora, and Emma Tallulah, none of whom have royal titles. The family lived in Islington, London and Lommedalen, Bærum.<ref>Arve Vassbotten (25 August 2012): Flytter til London om noen dager Template:Webarchive Template:In lang Se og Hør. Retrieved 27 July 2013</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Emma Tallulah Behn is a junior member of the national equestrian team and won a bronze medal during the Norwegian National Horse Jumping Championships in 2021.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The couple divorced in 2017.<ref name="official-bio">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2016, the Royal Court had announced that Märtha Louise and Behn would have joint custody of their three daughters.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} (in Norwegian)</ref> Ari Behn died by suicide on Christmas Day 2019.<ref name="Robinson 2019">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Second marriage

In May 2019, she announced that she was in a relationship with an American citizen, a conspiracy theorist<ref name=thetimes24>Template:Cite news</ref> and self-styled shaman named Durek Verrett (born 17 November 1974 as Derek Verrett).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Verrett was included as one of "20 famous conspiracy theorists" alongside David Icke and Alex Jones in a newspaper article in 2024.<ref name=msn>Template:Cite news</ref> He has faced strong criticism in Norway<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and been characterized by Norwegian media and other critics as a conman.<ref name="finansavisen"/><ref name="vantru"/> Together, Märtha Louise and Verrett have organised seminars titled "The Princess and the Shaman," for which they also received widespread criticism.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="auto">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Specifically, Verrett has suggested that cancer is a matter of choice and has sold medallions, said to ward off Covid-19, online and without any scientific evidence to support such claims.<ref name="auto2">Template:Cite news</ref>

Märtha Louise has claimed she can communicate with angels.<ref name="auto2"/> Verrett also claims to have been initiated spiritually by an American woman who calls herself "Princess Susana von Radić of Croatia", whom the fact-checking site Vantrú describes as "a fraud who claims to be a princess."<ref name="vantru"/><ref name="auto1" />

In June 2022, Märtha Louise announced that she and Verrett were engaged.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They married in a private ceremony on 31 August 2024 in Geiranger.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Verrett and Märtha Louise sold the rights to the wedding to a British tabloid. Norwegian media described the wedding as "comical" and "embarrassing,"<ref name="in"/> sparking outrage over perceived greed and betrayal of Norwegian traditions and the taxpayers who fund the monarchy. The decision to conceal themselves in a plastic tent and behind a curtain to prevent anyone but tabloid photographers from "Hello!" magazine from capturing images of their wedding was widely criticized as a display of "shame and greed."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> At the marriage ceremony in 2024, media reported that the king was made to wait in a car for 43 minutes.<ref>https://www.nrk.no/norge/prinsessens-venninne-mener-kritikerne-tar-feil_-__det-er-altfor-voldsomt-1.17029212. NRK.no. Retrieved 2024-09-03</ref> Norwegian media criticized King Harald V for legitimizing and endorsing the exploitation of national values and symbols for Märtha Louise's and Durek Verrett's personal financial gain.<ref name=nettavi>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The newspaper iTromsø noted that Märtha Louise has faced extensive criticism for associating with a conspiracy theorist and her "commercialization and abuse of the title 'Princess'".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Royal historian Trond Norén Isaksen said that "for the sake of the monarchy's integrity and reputation, it is absolutely necessary to sever the formal ties with Princess Märtha Louise" and that it is necessary "to revoke the princess title that Märtha Louise has exploited to its fullest extent. The royal family cannot be for sale."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Bergens Tidende wrote that her title must be removed.

Märtha Louise's marriage to Verett, who is a Black American, has generated controversy. Märtha Louise has accused former friends of racism for their criticism of Verrett.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Verrett's sister, Demi DeLaNuit, criticized Märtha Louise for abusing her title to intimidate her.<ref name="sehertrygler">Template:Cite news</ref> Verrett and Märtha Louise sold the rights to their wedding to a British tabloid. Norwegian media described the wedding as "comical" and "embarrassing."<ref name="in">Template:Cite news</ref> Norwegian media criticized King Harald V for legitimizing and endorsing the exploitation of national values and symbols for Märtha Louise's and Verrett's personal financial gain.<ref name="nettavi" /> In November 2024, Norwegian media published recordings of Verrett where he admitted to sexual assault and "sucking the cock" of his clients during shamanistic sessions, and claimed that his wife knew about his actions.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The royal family's association with Verrett has been cited as contributing to a deterioration in its reputation.<ref name="nzz">Template:Cite news</ref> Political scientist Torvald Valland Therkildsen described the royal family as a parody that is a source of embarrassment to Norway.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Märtha Louise and Verrett were featured in the Netflix documentary Rebel Royals, in which Verrett accused the Norwegian royal family of not being aware of racism.<ref name=nrk-netflix/> The royal family said the documentary violated an agreement not to use the couple's connection to the royal family.<ref name=nrk-netflix2/>

Netflix documentary

Märtha Louise and her second husband Durek Verrett were featured in the Netflix documentary Rebel Royals, in which Verrett said he had not been welcomed with open arms by the royal family, and that King Harald, Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon "didn't know what racism was" and that "they looked at me as if I were crazy when I said that racism existed."<ref name=nrk-netflix>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Verrett said the first time that King Harald asked about his experiences of racism was when Oprah with Meghan and Harry aired, and that "they didn't want a family discussion because they didn't want to treat me that way. They wanted to have a family discussion because they were afraid I might be the next one on Oprah."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The royal family said the documentary violated Märtha Louise's and Verrett's agreement with the royal family not to use her title or connection to the royal family.<ref name=nrk-netflix2>Template:Cite news</ref> Royal commentator Tove Taalesen said "Märtha Louise is spoiled and has blatantly ignored the agreement."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Bibliography

• Underveis : et portrett av prinsesse Märtha Louise, 2001, Template:ISBN.
• Fra hjerte til hjerte ("From Heart to Heart"), 2002 in collaboration with husband Ari Behn, is a book about their wedding, Template:ISBN.
• Why Kings and Queens Don't Wear Crowns, 2005 in collaboration with Svein Nyhus (Illustrator), Template:ISBN.
• Eventyr fra jordens hjerte: Rodinia, 2007 (as editor) in collaboration with Kirsti Birkeland and Kristin Lyhmann (Editors), Template:ISBN.
• Englenes hemmeligheter: Deres natur, språk og hvordan du åpner opp for dem, 2012 in collaboration with Elisabeth Nordeng, Template:ISBN.

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and styles

• 1971–2002: Her Royal Highness Princess Märtha Louise of Norway
• 2002–present: Her Highness Princess Märtha Louise of Norway<ref name="official-bio"/>

On 8 November 2022, Märtha Louise announced that she will no longer have royal duties within the Norwegian royal house but will retain the title of Princess of Norway.<ref name=slow>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Honours

Royal monogram

National

• Template:Flag: Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Saint Olav
• Template:Flag: Dame of the Royal Family Decoration of King Olav V of Norway
• Template:Flag: Dame of the Royal Family Decoration of King Harald V of Norway
• Template:Flag: Recipient of the Medal of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of King Haakon VII
• Template:Flag: Recipient of the King Olav V Silver Jubilee Medal
• Template:Flag: Recipient of the King Olav V Commemorative Medal
• Template:Flag: Recipient of the Medal of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of King Olav V
• Template:Flag: Recipient of the Royal House Centennial Medal
• Template:Flag: Recipient of the King Harald V Silver Jubilee Medal

Foreign

• Template:Flag: Knight of the Order of the Elephant
• Template:Flag: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose
• Template:Flag: Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon<ref>Iceland</ref>
• Template:Flag: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Star of Jordan
• Template:Flag: Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown<ref group="notes" name="Order of the Crown">Not a state decoration but a personal gift from Queen Beatrix.</ref>
• Template:Flag: Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau
• Template:Flag: Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry
• Template:Flag: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
• Template:Flag: Commander Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Polar Star
• Template:Flag: Recipient of the 50th Birthday Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf
• Template:Flag: Recipient of the 70th Birthday Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf

External links

• Official Site of the Norwegian Royal Family: Princess Märtha Louise