Princess Martha Louise is to renounce her royal status, the Norwegian royal palace announced today. The daughter of King Harald V will, from February 1, no longer be known as Her Royal Highness, and will be free to work and earn her own keep.
“This is best for everyone,” the princess told a Norwegian newspaper. It means that the vivacious 30-year-old, due to marry Ari Behn in May, will be able to return to horse-riding and develop her role as a physical therapist, a discipline that she has spent years studying – although she also stated that her clients will be only family and friends.
The idea came from Martha Louise herself, who is in the process of setting up her own company to handle her cultural activities. She has already read a selection of Norwegian fairy tales aloud on national television and in local theatres, as well as releasing a CD version.
It must be stressed that this is not the first time a royal princess has renounced her title – her father’s two sisters also lost their “Royal Highness” titles when they married commoners. Martha Louise will, however, still be second in line to the throne, and will keep the prefix of “Princess”, noting that she will have both “official work” and “professional work”.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
