Princess Märtha Louise of Norway facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Princess Märtha Louise
Märtha Louise in 2019
Born	(1971-09-22) 22 September 1971 (age 53) The National Hospital, Oslo, Norway
Spouse	Ari Behn (m. 2002; div. 2017) Durek Verrett (m. 2024)
Children	Maud Angelica Behn Leah Isadora Behn Emma Tallulah Behn
House	Glücksburg
Father	Harald V
Mother	Sonja Haraldsen

Princess Märtha Louise of Norway (born 22 September 1971) is a member of the Norwegian royal family. She is known for her work as a businesswoman and for her interest in alternative therapies. Princess Märtha Louise is married to Durek Verrett.

She was born in Oslo in 1971 to then-Prince Harald and Sonja Haraldsen. At the time, she could not inherit the Norwegian throne because only males could become king. This rule changed in 1990, and she was then included in the line of succession to the Norwegian throne. She is currently fourth in line to the throne. Her father became King in 1991.

Princess Märtha Louise has been active in business and alternative healing. From 2007 to 2018, she ran her own center, sometimes called the "angel school" in Norway. This center focused on communicating with angels and spirits. She was married to writer and artist Ari Behn from 2002 to 2017. In May 2019, she shared that she was in a relationship with Durek Verrett, a spiritual guide who calls himself a "shaman."

Princess Märtha Louise has faced some criticism in Norway for her claims about communicating with angels and for using her title as a princess in her business activities. Many people have suggested she should give up her royal title. In 2019, the royal court announced that she would no longer use the title "Princess" for her business activities. In 2022, she stepped back from her royal duties to focus on alternative medicine.

Her marriage to Durek Verrett has also caused discussion. They sold the rights to their wedding to a British magazine. Some Norwegian media described the wedding as unusual. Some people in Norway have also expressed concerns about the use of royal connections for personal business gain.

Early Life and Royal Succession
Education and Career
Princess Märtha Louise's Fund
Marriage and Family Life
- First Marriage
- Second Marriage
Titles, Styles, and Honours
- Titles and Styles
- Honours
  - National Honours (Norway)
  - Foreign Honours
See also

Early Life and Royal Succession

Princess Märtha Louise was born on 22 September 1971 at The National Hospital in Oslo. Her parents were then Crown Prince Harald and Crown Princess Sonja. She was named after her grandmother, Princess Märtha of Sweden, and her great-great-grandmother, Louise of Sweden.

When she was born, Princess Märtha Louise was not in line to the throne. This was because, until 1990, only males could inherit the Norwegian throne. She was baptized a few months after her birth. Her godparents included King Olav V of Norway and Princess Margaretha of Sweden.

In 1973, her younger brother, Haakon Magnus, was born. In 1990, the Norwegian constitution was changed. This new rule meant that the oldest child, whether a boy or a girl, would inherit the throne first. This change only applied to children born in 1990 or later. Girls born between 1971 and 1990 (which included only Märtha Louise) were given the right to inherit, but their brothers would still be ahead of them. This meant Prince Haakon was still ahead of Märtha Louise in the line of succession. After her brother's two children, Ingrid Alexandra and Sverre Magnus, were born, Märtha Louise became fourth in line to the throne.

Education and Career

Princess Märtha Louise is a certified physiotherapist, which means she is trained to help people recover from injuries or illnesses through physical exercises. She studied in Oslo and the Netherlands. However, she has not worked as a physiotherapist. Instead, she started her own entertainment business. She gave public and televised performances, telling folk tales and singing with Norwegian choirs. In December 2003, she sang a solo at an Oslo Gospel Choir Christmas concert.

On 1 January 2002, Princess Märtha Louise started her own business. This allowed her more freedom from her royal duties. She began paying income tax. After talking with her, the King issued a royal order that removed her title of Royal Highness. She kept her place in the line of succession.

In October 2004, Princess Märtha Louise and her husband moved to New York City. In 2004, she released her first book, a children's story called Why Kings and Queens Don't Wear Crowns.

Märtha Louise has also studied different types of healing. She trained as a Rosen therapist and studied at a school for holistic medicine. She believes she can communicate with animals and angels. She started her own alternative therapy center called Astarte Education. This center offered a three-year course on healing, readings, and angels.

The princess received some criticism in Norway when she announced she would start Astarte Education. In 2007, a newspaper called for her to give up her royal titles. Several experts and professors also expressed concerns about her plans.

On 11 August 2007, Märtha Louise defended her school on NRK, a Norwegian TV network. She described her connection with angels as "creatures of light" that gave her a feeling of strong support. She said she still considered herself a Christian.

In 2007, Princess Märtha Louise was the editor of a book called Prinsesse Märtha Louises eventyrlige verden, Eventyr fra jordens hjerte, Rodinia. This book contained 67 fairy tales from 50 countries. In 2009, she and her Astarte Education partner Elisabeth Samnøy published Møt din skyttsengel (Meet your guardian angel). They later published 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).

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 created on 15 September 1972. This fund gives money to projects run by non-governmental organizations. These projects help children under 16 with disabilities in Norway. Princess Märtha Louise is the chairperson of this fund. In 2005, the fund had about NOK 13,285,000 (Norwegian Kroner) and gave out about NOK 500,000 each year.

Marriage and Family Life

First Marriage

On 24 May 2002, Princess Märtha Louise married author Ari Behn (1972–2019) in Trondheim. They had three daughters: Maud Angelica, Leah Isadora, and Emma Tallulah. None of their daughters have royal titles. The family lived in Islington, London, and Lommedalen, Bærum. Emma Tallulah Behn is a talented horse rider and won a bronze medal in the Norwegian National Horse Jumping Championships in 2021.

The couple divorced in 2017. In 2016, the Royal Court announced that Märtha Louise and Behn would share custody of their three daughters. Ari Behn passed away on Christmas Day 2019.

Second Marriage

In May 2019, Princess Märtha Louise announced she was in a relationship with an American, Durek Verrett (born 17 November 1974). Verrett is a spiritual guide who calls himself a "shaman." Princess Märtha Louise and Verrett have held seminars together called "The Princess and the Shaman." Verrett has made some claims, such as suggesting that cancer is a matter of choice. He has also sold special medallions online, claiming they could protect against illnesses, but there is no scientific proof for these claims.

Princess Märtha Louise believes she can communicate with angels. Verrett also says he was spiritually guided by an American woman who calls herself "Princess Susana von Radić of Croatia."

In June 2022, she announced that she and Verrett were engaged. They were married in a private ceremony on 31 August 2024 in Geiranger. Verrett and Märtha Louise shared the rights to their wedding with a British magazine. Some Norwegian media described the wedding as unusual. There was discussion about the decision to keep the wedding private from most photographers, allowing only certain magazine photographers to take pictures. At the wedding ceremony in 2024, media reported that the King waited in a car for some time. Some people in Norway have expressed concerns about the use of royal connections for Märtha Louise's and Durek Verrett's personal financial gain.

A Norwegian newspaper noted that Märtha Louise has faced criticism for her association with Verrett and for using her "princess" title in business. A royal historian 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." Another newspaper wrote that her title should be removed.

Titles, Styles, and Honours

Titles and Styles

1971–2002: Her Royal Highness Princess Märtha Louise of Norway
2002–present: Her Highness Princess Märtha Louise of Norway

On 8 November 2022, Märtha Louise announced that she would no longer have official royal duties within the Norwegian royal house. However, she kept her title of Princess of Norway.