Princess Martha Louise of Norway steps down from royal roles ahead of wedding to American Durek Verrett
By 9Honey with AP|
Princess Martha Louise of Norway has shocked fans by announcing she's stepping down from her royal roles.
The daughter of Norway's King Harald V and Queen Sonja, said she would no longer officially represent the Norwegian royal house following "many questions relating to me and my fiance's role".
"I have decided that at the present time I will no longer carry out official duties for the royal household," she said in a statement issued by the palace.
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?The 50-year-old princess said the decision was made in consultation with her parents "to create peace around the royal household" and allow her to pursue other interests.
At least one foundation for which Martha Louise served as a patron subsequently ended its connection with the princess.
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"The princess is patron of various organisations, and today she informed them that she is relinquishing her patronage role, which has provided the framework for her official duties," the palace said.
"The princess is taking this step to create a clearer dividing line between her business activities and her role as a member of the royal family. The organisations previously under her patronage will be offered the patronage of other members of the royal family."
King Harald V and Queen Sonja thanked their ?daughter "for the important work she has carried out in her official capacity for several decades".
"She has performed her duties with warmth, care and deep commitment," the statement said.?
Martha Louise is fourth in line to the Norwegian throne - her brother, Crown Prince Haakon, will take the throne after their father - and will retain her title but has not been styled as "her royal highness" since 2002.
The princess confirmed the news in a short video on Instagram, with an exception being made for the royal to keep her title in her social media handle.
In a lengthy caption, the royal explained the reasons behind the decision and told fans it had been a smooth process.
"We have all embraced each other's views in a loving and respectful way," she captioned the post.
Adding: "I am concerned with health and research and I myself have education in health as a physiotherapist and respect school medicine. I see alternative medicine as an important supplement to school medicine."
Martha Louise, a divorcee, got engaged to Durek Verrett, 47, in June after almost three years together. Verrett is an American who describes himself as a shaman and a healer on his website.
Norwegian media have accused Martha Louise and Verrett of using her royal title for commercial gain along with promoting alternative health care methods.
The palace statement said the couple would "clarify the distinction between their own activities and the royal household" and will not use the title of princess or refer to royals in social media or commercial activity.
Verrett will not have a title or represent Norway's royal house when he and Martha Louise marry, according to the statement.
"Like Erling Lorentzen, Johan Martin Ferner and Ari Behn, Durek Verrett will become part of the Royal Family when he marries, but in keeping with tradition, he will have no title or represent the royal family," they said.
The royals also used their statement to decry the racism directed online at Verrett.
"The racist attitudes Durek Verrett has been subjected to, especially on social media, we strongly oppose," they said.
"It is a strength that the royal family reflects the ethnic diversity that exists in Norway.?"
The pair will still attend family-related occasions and events where it is a tradition for royals to participate.
Alongside her royal duties, the princess has written books in which she claimed to have contact with angels.
Martha Louise has three daughters จC Maud Angelica, 19; Leah Isadora, 17; and Emma Tallulah, 14 จC from her first marriage to Ari Behn, which ended in 2016 after 14 years of marriage. Behn died in 2019, aged 47.
The princess, who currently splits her time between Norway and the US, plans to relocate to California with her daughters after the wedding, according to Norwegian media.
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