Why Norwegian Princess Märtha Louise Resigned Her Royal Duties

Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, the daughter of King Harald and Queen Sonja, has announced she's resigned her royal duties, but will retain her title. Find more about the reason behind her decision.

By Kisha Forde Nov 08, 2022 1:15 PMTags
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Princess Märtha Louise is taking a step back from her official duties.

The 51-year-old, who is the only daughter of King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway, announced the decision in a video shared to Instagram on Nov. 8. The development surrounding the princess' royal duties comes just five months after she announced her engagement to Shaman Durek Verrett.

"After a period of many questions related to me and my fiancé's role, I have decided that at the present time I will no longer perform official duties for the Royal Household," she said in the clip, translated per Life in Norway. "I am making this decision in consultation with my parents, the King and Queen, in order to create peace around the Royal House."
 
Shaman Durek, per his website, is a spiritual advisor and wellness guru. In recent years, Martha Louise—who was previously married to late writer Ari Behn until their 2017 divorce—has also shared she has completed spiritual teachings and describes herself as a clairvoyant.

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According to the Associated Press, the princess will retain her title, but the palace also confirmed that she is relinquishing the role of patron for the organizations she has served. Those organizations will instead be offered patronage from other members of the royal family.

STIAN LYSBERG SOLUM/NTB/AFP via Getty Images

In their statement, the palace, per the outlet, also said that the change in duties for the princess and her fiancé would "clarify the distinction between their own activities and the royal household." Moving forward, although her title is retained, she will not use the title or any reference to royals in social media or commercial activity.

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