One of European royalty’s most recent additions, Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, suffered a most un-royal fate at the weekend when she fell victim to a purse snatcher. The pretty blonde was out shopping at a flea market in Oslo with a girlfriend and her trio of bodyguards when the crime occurred.
When the single mother spotted a coat that took her fancy, she put her purse down to try the garment on. When she looked again, the purse had disappeared. Her security team were said to be “confounded” by the attack but feel they could not have done anything to prevent the theft.
“There were so many people around and it all happened so quickly,” said the head of the royal guards, Trond Evensen. “Our primary duty is to protect members of the royal family physically, so that’s where we have the focus.”
The palace later refused to criticise the royal security team’s performance. Press officer Wenche Rasch said: “The incident had a happy ending and the crown princess is glad she got her purse back. Beyond that, we don’t want to make any further comments.”
A sharp-eyed passer-by is said to have found the purse shortly after the occurrence. After it was turned in to officials at the Ulleval School flea market, the wallet was returned to the royal bodyguards. Mette-Marit’s bank card was still in the purse, but some personal items were missing. A royal spokesman declined to reveal what had been taken.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
