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| Princess Märtha Louise of Norway | |
|---|---|
| Name | Princess Märtha Louise of Norway |
| Caption | Princess Märtha Louise in 2015 |
| Birth date | 22 September 1971 |
| Birth place | Oslo, Norway |
| House | House of Glücksburg |
| Father | Harald V of Norway |
| Mother | Sonja |
| Occupation | Author, alternative therapist, entrepreneur |
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway is a Norwegian royal, entrepreneur, and author, born in 1971 as the eldest child of Harald V of Norway and Queen Sonja of Norway. She has played a public role in the Norwegian Royal Family while pursuing private ventures in alternative therapy, publishing, and education. Her career and statements have provoked debate within Norway and internationally, affecting perceptions of monarchy, spirituality, and public roles.
Princess Märtha Louise was born at the National Hospital in Oslo and raised at the Royal Palace. She is a member of the House of Glücksburg and is sibling to Crown Prince Haakon. Her early schooling included attendance at Oslo Waldorf School and later studies at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, and the University of Oslo. She studied physiotherapy at Oslo University College, trained in art therapy and undertook courses in English language and American culture while spending time in the United States. Her education exposed her to institutions such as United World Colleges and connected her with figures in European royalty and Scandinavian culture.
As a member of the Norwegian Royal Family, she carried out representational duties including patronages of cultural institutions and participation in national ceremonies such as Constitution Day celebrations. She has represented Norway at events associated with the Nordic Council, Royal House visits, and international commemorations alongside members of the Swedish Royal Family, the Danish Royal Family, and the British Royal Family. Her patronages have included associations linked to arts organizations and humanitarian NGOs in Norway, collaborating with entities like the Norwegian Red Cross and cultural bodies in Bergen and Trondheim. Her role evolved after her decision to step back from certain official duties, influencing discussions in the Parliament of Norway and among commentators in outlets such as Aftenposten and VG (newspaper).
Princess Märtha Louise established private ventures including a publishing career producing books and audio recordings, collaborations with Forlaget Cappelen Damm, and seminars drawing on alternative therapies. She founded companies and entities engaging with concepts promoted by practitioners in New Age movement circles, partnering with international figures from United States and United Kingdom wellness communities. Her work included teaching at private courses, involvement with horse therapy initiatives, and projects in equine-assisted programs linked to rehabilitation efforts in regions such as Scandinavia. She has collaborated with authors, speakers, and organizations across Europe and North America, engaging with publishers, festival organizers, and media outlets including NRK and TV 2 (Norway).
Princess Märtha Louise married author and film director Ari Behn in a ceremony attended by European royals; the couple later divorced. She has three children who have been covered extensively in Norwegian and international media; family events often involved relatives from the Norwegian Royal Family and visits from members of the Belgian Royal Family and Greek royal family due to intermarriage among European dynasties. Her relationships and private residences in Oslo and other Norwegian locales have been subjects of public interest in newspapers such as Dagbladet and magazines like Se og Hør. She has familial ties to other European houses through her father Harald V of Norway and connections to institutions such as Stortinget when protocol or succession issues arise.
Her promotion of alternative therapies, spiritual practices, and commercial activities—particularly ventures marketed under distinctive personal brands—has generated criticism from scientists, medical professionals, and media commentators in outlets like Aftenposten, Dagbladet, and international press. Debates involved Norwegian Medical Association perspectives, parliamentary scrutiny, and commentary by figures in public health and consumer protection circles. Her association with individuals and organizations in the New Age movement led to discussions about ethics, transparency, and potential conflicts with the royal role, prompting responses from the Royal Court of Norway and commentary from cultural critics and academics at institutions including the University of Oslo.
Princess Märtha Louise holds royal titles associated with the Norwegian monarchy and has received honours and decorations from Norway and foreign states, including orders conferred by the Kingdom of Norway and reciprocated by other European monarchies such as the Kingdom of Sweden and the Kingdom of Denmark. She serves or has served as patron of organizations in cultural heritage, arts, and welfare sectors, collaborating with entities in cities like Bergen, Trondheim, and Kristiansand. Her honours include national royal orders and recognitions from international institutions and chivalric organizations within the European royal network.
Princess Märtha Louise's legacy is mixed: she remains a prominent figure in discussions about the modern role of royalty, entrepreneurship, and spirituality in contemporary Norwegian society. Scholars and journalists at institutions such as the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs and the University of Bergen analyze her impact on perceptions of the monarchy and on debates over private enterprise by royals. Public opinion measured in polls conducted by organizations like Norstat and covered in media outlets such as NRK and VG (newspaper) reflects a complex picture of admiration, skepticism, and curiosity about her career and public statements.
Category:Norwegian royalty Category:1971 births Category:Living people