Princess Märtha Louise, daughter of King Harald and sister of King Haakon, turns 55 on 22 September.
Despite her distinguished lineage, she celebrates her birthday without official duties in the royal house, now headed by her younger brother, and with the pain of having recently lost her father. It is also the eve of her aunt, Princess Astrid's funeral, who passed away just 15 days after her brother Harald.
During her father's reign, Märtha Louise achieved what has been impossible in other families: a balance between leaving the royal household to live the life she desired with her husband, Durek Verrett, while maintaining unwavering affection and personal support in the face of decisions that triggered genuine institutional upheavals.
© Getty ImagesKing Harald's eldest daughter reached an agreement with the palace in November 2022 when she stepped down from her royal duties, stipulating that she could not use her title of princess – which she retains –for commercial purposes. This agreement was broken five times, always with the corresponding exchange of statements, but within the family, things never came to a head.
© Alamy Stock PhotoHarald of Norway, the king who put family first
King Harald always knew how to separate the institution from the family and never let his role as guardian of the Crown interfere with his roles as a father, husband, or grandfather. He knew very well what it was like to fall in love with someone who, at first glance, didn't fit the Court's expectations, and for that reason, he always respected his children's choices, despite the controversies or pressures they aroused.
He also embraced Shaman Verrett as his son-in-law and attended his wedding on 31 August, 2024, along with the rest of the Norwegian royal family. Märtha Louise's tears at his funeral were a testament to the enduring bond between father and daughter. Durek's grief was also striking, as was his emotional farewell on social media, paying tribute to his father-in-law, whom he called "Dad."
© Getty ImagesThis recent loss, coupled with that of her aunt Astrid two weeks later, inevitably casts a pall of sadness over this birthday. Her husband is also recovering from a recent kidney transplant, as is her sister-in-law Mette-Marit, who is recovering from a lung transplant. These are not easy times for the Norwegian royal family on a personal level.
King Haakon's reign
The reign of Haakon VIII is not expected to bring any changes to the situation of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, who has always maintained a close relationship with her brother. They are united by their shared defense of each other against all odds, and in the Princess's case, even to the point of stepping aside from her royal duties. Although Märtha Louise is older, she was born under the Salic law, so her destiny was never to reign.
© Photo: Getty ImagesAlthough all indications suggest the new king will maintain the same stance as his father regarding the Princess, both will have to readjust their relationship to the new circumstances in which Haakon is the guardian of the monarchy and Märtha Louise, the family's maverick, with whom he maintains a demonstrably fragile agreement. Setting aside the tensions that will inevitably arise, their affection and unity will be the great challenge for the siblings, but it will not be the only one for Haakon VIII.
While the succession has boosted the popularity of a monarchy that had been navigating a period of crisis for some time, the situation of Marius Borg, under house arrest until his retrial in February, and Queen Mette-Marit's health problems are undoubtedly the most pressing immediate challenges of his newly begun reign.
