Norway: Princess to wed controversial author

Norway's Princess Märtha Louise has become engaged to controversial author Ari Behn. The Royal Palace was set to make a formal announcement Thursday afternoon.

The couple were first romantically linked earlier this year, just months after the princess broke off with an earlier boyfriend in the Netherlands and came home to Norway after spending several years in equestrian training overseas.

The relationship immediately set off controversy, not only because Behn was viewed as a hip, radical author but because he'd been viewed as condoning drug use in a television documentary he'd appeared in.

One local magazine wrote at the time that Queen Sonja, the princess' mother, was upset over the relationship. The princess later accused the media of lying.

Neither the princess nor the palace have ever confirmed the romance but Behn soon starting turning up more often on the princess' arm. In the run-up to last summer's royal wedding between Princess Märtha Louise's younger brother and Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby, Behn figured prominently at parties and receptions. He was also a guest at the Oslo Cathedral, but not at the wedding dinner afterwards.

Speculation soon rose that another royal wedding was in the cards, and it accelerated when Behn and the princess publicly showed their affection for each other during her 30th birthday party celebration in September.

Behn, 29, lived in Moss and sprang to prominence in 1999 when his book "Trist som faen" (which roughly translates to "Sad as hell") was published. The book received good reviews and he since has been a fixture among Oslo's "young and trendy" cultural elite. He's often spotted wandering around town dressed in dark suits with his hair slicked back.

Princess Märtha Louise grew up at the royal suburban compound Skaugum, west of Oslo. She was educated as a physical therapist but has never practiced, and instead spent most of her 20s riding horses in international competition.

Behn has just returned from a trip to Pakistan, where he's working on a documentary about Afghanistan natives living in the border area. The princess has kept a high profile lately, most recently appearing at several of the events held in connection with the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Another royal wedding

Norway's Princess Märtha Louise and author Ari Behn will be married in Trondheim's famous Nidaros Cathedral on May 24th next year. The couple announced the date at a press conference Thursday afternoon.

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Princess Märtha Louise first jokingly apologized to the massive press corps in place for the announcement, saying she was sorry to those who were sick and tired of royal weddings, because there was going to be another.

After introducing her fiancé as the reason for her recent buoyant spirits and the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with, the princess became choked with emotion and needed a short break to cope with a sudden flood of tears.

Princess Märtha Louise, clasping Behn's hand on his right knee, quickly regained her composure and the press session continued with her bubbling with laughter.

Behn seemed slightly taken aback to learn that for Princess Märtha Louise the realization that they were meant for each other was "love at third sight", and he was quick to insist that he needed only one look to be sure.

With Behn's public reputation as a trendy, bohemian artist and the recent memory of the wild past of Norway's new crown princess Mette-Marit, it was only a question of time before the coming groom was quizzed about his history.

Behn had no apologies to make for things he had done in the past and said that the things written and said about him would have to remain "second-hand information".

The princess explained that Behn would not receive the title of prince as historical precedent has never awarded this status to the husband of a princess, and that things in this respect would be continuing as before.

The couple could not say where they intended to live after the wedding, but said they were agreed that they would leave the capital in preference for a more rural environment.

Behn was dressed in a sober grey suit and blue tie while Princess Märtha Louise was more casual in an open-throated, short-sleeved blue dress.

The engagement rings for the couple have been designed by Behn's grandfather. They have matching rings of white gold with lillies formed by diamonds. Princess Märtha Louise's ring has an extra touch, two hearts made of rubies.

Aftenposten English Web Desk

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