Princess Märtha Louise ends her official duties for the royal palace
King Harald: “I am sorry that the princess will no longer represent the royal family”
Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB
King Harald and Queen Sonja comment on the decision that Princess Märtha Louise will no longer perform official duties for the royal palace.
NTB
“That’s the way it is,” the king said in an interview with NTB and NRK.
King Harald spoke to the press after the news that Princess Märtha Louise is ending her official duties for the royal palace.
In a press release from the palace earlier on Nov. 8, it was also stated that the king had decided that Märtha Louise should retain the title of princess.
Märtha Louise pointed out that there have been many questions relating to her and her fiancé Durek Verrett’s roles in recent times.
“Unanimous decision”
The king says the process is led by the crown prince and the head of the court, and that both the king, the queen, Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett have been involved.
The decision has been taken in mutual understanding, the royal couple emphasizes.
“This has been an unanimous decision,” said Queen Sonja.
“We have discussed this very thoroughly and even put up posters on the walls,” she said.
Engaged in June
In June this year, Märtha got engaged to American Durek Verrett, also known as shaman Durek (see Märtha Louise engaged to Durek Verrett). The relationship between the two became known to the public in 2019.
On Nov. 8, the royal palace announced that Verrett will become part of the royal family when the couple marry, but that in line with tradition he will not have any title or represent the royal house.
The relationship has at times been stormy, and Märtha received criticism for, among other things, mixing up commercial interests and the title of princess in connection with their joint lecture tour “The Princess and the Shaman.”
The row caused the Epilepsy Association to end its cooperation with Märtha Louise as their high patron in 2020, and early this fall several other associations announced that they were considering doing the same.
New guidelines
In the Nov. 8 announcement, it was stated that neither Märtha Louise nor Durek Verrett will use the title of princess or mention other members of the royal house in their own social media channels or in connection with media productions or other commercial activities.
The couple will also contribute to creating a clearer distinction between the royal palace and their own activities.
No date has yet been set for the wedding between Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett.
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