Her Highness Princess Märtha Louise

The Princess was named after her father’s mother, Crown Princess Märtha, and her great-great grandmother, Queen Louise, the mother of King Haakon VII. A constitutional amendment adopted in 1990 established the right of eldest born child to succeed to the Throne regardless of gender; however, as the amendment entered into force long after the Princess and Crown Prince were born, it was decided that males would continue to take precedence over females for children born prior to 1990.

Early life

Princess Märtha Louise and her brother spent their childhood at Skaugum Estate, near Oslo. Her parents attached great importance to giving their children an upbringing that was as similar as possible to that of other Norwegian children, and both the Princess and the Crown Prince attended a municipal day-care centre and a local primary school, and took part in various after school activities. The Princess sung in a choir and played the flute, and for many years she was a member of a folk dancing group at the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History. She was also an avid equestrian.

The Princess has a long standing interest in equestrian sports. Here at Oslo Horse Show 2017. Photo: Mariam Butt / NTB scanpix

Family

The Princess and Mr. Durek Verrett announced their engagement 7 June 2022 and the couple got married in Geiranger 31 August 2024. The family lives in Lommedalen, in Bærum outside of Oslo.

The Princess has three daughters from her marriage to the author Ari Behn (1972–2019): Maud Angelica was born at Rikshospitalet in Oslo on April 29, 2003, Leah Isadora was born at Bloksbjerg on Hankø on April 8, 2005, and Emma Tallulah, who was born in Lommedalen on September 29, 2008. All three were baptized in the Palace Chapel. The Princess was married to Ari Behn from May 24, 2002, until 2017.

Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett got married in Geiranger 31 August 2024. Photo: Maja Moan

No official duties

Princess Märtha Louise no longer carries out official duties for the Royal House of Norway, but she serves as the chair of the board of the Princess Märtha Louise’s Fund. This was announced 8 November 2022.

Princess Märtha Louise to relinquish her official duties The roles of Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett moving forward

Princess Märtha Louise's Fund

Princess Märtha Louise's Fund was established on 15 September 1972 and the return on the fund’s investments is used to support measures in Norway to benefit children with disabilities. The allocation of grants takes place each year on 22 September, which is Princess Märtha Louise’s birthday.

Business enterprise

Today Princess Märtha Louise conducts various commercial activities under her sole proprietorship, including publication of books, sale of clothing and beauty products and lecture tours.

In the early 2000s, Princess Märtha Louise was deeply involved in cultural activities, and especially in disseminating traditional Norwegian fairy tales, among other things as part of a storytelling series on Norwegian television. In January 2002 the Princess launched independent professional activities in the cultural sphere and as a Rosen therapist. As of that date she has been self-employed and subject to Norwegian tax laws. 

From 2007 to 2019 the Princess ran Astarte Education/Soulspring with Elisabeth Nordeng. In 2018, the Princess launched the YouTube channel HEST360 together with Geir Kamsvåg and Therese Alhaug, and in 2021 she became a partner in the HÈST clothing brand.

The Princess is the author of several books and audiobooks, and has participated in the production of television programmes for children.