Durek Verrett, the self-appointed “shaman” who’s romantically involved with Norway’s Princess Martha Louise, has now apologized for “generalizing Norwegians” when he reacted angrily to how local publishing companies won’t put out his new book. In it, Verrett claims that cancer is “self-inflicted” and a result of not wanting to live any longer. “I made some […]
Hopes and tension at liberation jubilee
October 25, 2019
On the eve of Friday’s ceremonies marking the Soviet liberation of Finnmark in 1944 came word that a Russian commission was recommending a pardon for convicted Norwegian spy Frode Berg. As hopes rose for Berg’s release, however, Russia uleashed harsh criticism of Norwegian defense policy, marring the Norwegian delegation’s long-planned meetings with Russian Foreign Minister […]
Tradition reigns at Parliament opening
October 2, 2019
PHOTO: FEATURE: All the preparations and timing are carefully planned, right down to the smallest detail. See the Norwegian Parliament’s own photos of its annual, highly formal and traditional opening ceremonies. There’s a certain amount of “re-furnishing” needed before the Parliament (Stortinget) opens after the long summer recess. The president’s podium and speaker boxes are […]
No options for her royal confirmation
August 29, 2019
The daughter of Crown Prince Haakon was set to undergo Norwegian teenagers’ rite of passage this weekend, known as konfirmasjon. While record few now choose a church confirmation, opting instead for a civil ceremony or none at all, Princess Ingrid Alexandra has no choice, and some commentators think that’s a problem. The Royal Palace announced […]
Princess to stop exploiting royal title
August 7, 2019
The daughter of Norway’s King Harald V has been criticized for years for using her “princess” title in connection with her various business ventures. Now she’s finally admitted that she made “a mistake,” and she’ll only use “Martha Louise” in a commercial context. The criticism began nearly 20 years ago, when Martha Louise (spelled “Märtha” […]
Royal wealth defies the ‘folksy’ image
August 5, 2019
The Norwegian royal family has long cultivated an informal image aimed at retaining public support in a country that was by no means wealthy when the country’s monarchy was reinstated. Newspaper Dagens Næringsliv (DN) reported over the weekend how the image defies the reality of the royals’ sizeable wealth, much of which stemmed from the […]
Royal heir returns to public school
May 27, 2019
Princess Ingrid Alexandra’s parents caught lots of criticism when they pulled her out of the local public school and enrolled her in the expensive and exclusive Oslo International School in Bærum. Now the Royal Palace has announced that the heir to Norway’s throne wants to spend her last year of junior high school at a […]
Crown Prince backs climate strikes
May 24, 2019
Thousands of Norwegian school students were mounting demonstrations around the country again on Friday, to demand that politicians do more to stop climate change. Now they’ve won the support of Crown Prince Haakon, who told a German magazine this week that he thinks the school climate strikes taking place around the world are “enormously important.” […]
Palace to confront princess over title
May 17, 2019
As King Harald and Queen Sonja got ready to wave from the balcony of the Royal Palace on Norway’s Constitution Day Friday, a confrontation seems to be looming inside palace chambers. Palace officials have finally broken their silence on the uproar around Princess Martha Louise’s commercial use of her royal title. “We’re following the debate […]
Princess refuses to give up her title
May 16, 2019
Norway’s Princess Martha Louise is creating credibility problems and even “a catastrophe” for the reputation of the Norwegian royal family, editorialized newspaper Dagsavisen this week. Fædrelandsvennen, the major daily in the hometown of the princess’ own sister-in-law Crown Princess Mette-Marit, urged Martha Louise to give up her title, but Martha Louise refuses to do so as criticism […]
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