King Harald V of Norway could be about to follow Danish Queen Margrethe and remove his daughter’s royal title, Norwegian media is speculating.
Queen Margrethe II’s explosive announcement that Danish royals Prince Nikolai, 23, Prince Felix, 20, Prince Henrik, 13, and Princess Athena, 10, will become Counts and Countesses, and will be known as Their Excellencies, rather than His or Her Royal Highness as of January 1 has caused huge controversy in the Scandinavian country.
And now it looks as if Norway’s monarch, 85, could be about to follow suite, permanently stripping his daughter Princess Märtha Louise, 51, who announced her engagement to US Shaman Durek Verrett in June, of her title.
According to Norwegian publication, Se og Hør, crisis meetings have been taking place on an ongoing basis over the issue between the king and his two children, who he shares with Queen Sonja of Norway, Crown Prince Haakon, 49 – who is heir to the throne – and Princess Martha Louise.
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King Harald V of Norway, 85, (pictured center with wife Queen Sonja, left) is said to be considering stripping his daughter Princess Märtha Louise, 51, (far right) of her royal title after a series of crisis meetings in Oslo.
Princess Martha-Louise announced her engagement to US Shaman Durek Verrett in June. The couple started dating in 2019 and after meeting through a mutual friend, and share a passion spirit world
It’s thought that Martha Louise, a mother-of-three, has considered removing the Princess title herself. She gave up using the title ‘Her Royal Highness’ in 2002
Princess Martha Louise’s brother, Crown Prince Haakon, 49, (far right) pictured with wife Crown Princess Mette-Marit (second from right) and King Harald and Queen Sonja (far left, and second from left) is heir to the Norwegian throne
MailOnline has contacted the Norwegian Royal household for comment. Princess Märtha Louise’s manager, Carina Scheele, has declined to comment on the story.
Back in 2019, the Norwegian royal house announced that Märtha Louise, in consultation with her family, had decided that she would no longer use the title of princess in commercial contexts.
The palace said that the royal could, however, continue to use the title when she represented the royal house, as well as in a private context. Märtha Louise gave up using the title ‘Her Royal Highness’ in 2002.
However, it’s now thought that King Harald is considering stripping Martha Louise of her princess title permanently – with the Norwegian royal herself also said to be contemplating relinquishing the title on her own.
Märtha Louise traveled to Canada last week, and it’s thought that meetings with her father to discuss her title would have taken place before that.
The 50-year-old mother of three, who is the daughter of King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway, announced her engagement to the 47-year-old Californian bisexual shaman in June.
With a huge celebrity following, the belief he can talk to the spiritual world and very colorful history, Shaman Durek is hardly your typical royal groom.
But perhaps he’s perfect for Princess Martha-Louis of Norway, who as a self-proclaimed clairvoyant who says she can talk to angels is far from a classic royal bride.
In March, the princess shared the first snap of her three children alongside each partner Shaman Durek (pictured together)
Born Durek Verrett in Sacramento in November 1974, the groom-to-be claims he first became ‘aware’ of his shamanic abilities when he was five but that he didn’t start training until age 11
The pair been dating since 2019 after meeting through a mutual friend, and share a passion for all things spiritual. They are pictured with Gwyneth Paltrow
The pair been dating since 2019 after meeting through a mutual friend, and share a passion for all things spiritual.
Born Durek Verrett in Sacramento in November 1974, the groom-to-be claims he first became ‘aware’ of his shamanic abilities when he was five but that he didn’t start training until age 11.
Meanwhile in Denmark, Prince Joachim has spoken out about Queen Margrethe’s recent decision to strip his four children of their royal titles and it was revealed that his daughter is being bullied at school.
The prince said that the relationships within the family are currently ‘complicated’, as Prince Nikolai, 23, Prince Felix, 20, Prince Henrik, 13, and Princess Athena, 10, will become Counts and Countesses, and will be known as Their Excellencies , rather than His or Her Royal Highness as of January 1.
While Princess Marie said that Athena is being bullied at school after the decision was publicly announced earlier this week.
Prince Joachim of Denmark (pictured) has once again hit out at his mother Queen Margrethe II’s decision to strip his four children of their royal titles
As of January 1, Prince Nikolai, 23, Prince Felix, 20, Prince Henrik, 13, and Princess Athena, 10, will become Counts and Countesses, and will be known as Their Excellencies, it was announced on Wednesday. Pictured, the children with Prince Joachim and Princess Marie on September 11, 2022
Front: Queen Margrethe, Middle Row (left to right): Prince Vincent, Princess Josephine, Princess Athena, Prince Henrik. Back row (left to right): Princess Benedikte, Princess Isabella, Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Frederik, Prince Christian, Prince Joachim, Princess Marie, Prince Felix and Prince Nikolai in a portrait celebrating Queen Margrethe’s Golden Jubilee
The Danish Royal Family tree. Prince Joachim’s children Nikolai, 23, Felix, 20, Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10, will all be losing their titles on January 1 2023
‘They come and say (to Athena): Is it you who is no longer a princess?,’ Princess Marie told Danish news outlet BT.
She said her children were put under the public spotlight and feels the need to defend them, especially now after her youngest is being picked on.
‘The children were publicly exhibited. At very short notice. This means that we, as parents, have not had time to prepare them for the change and people’s reactions,’ she added.
Joachim has hit out at the move, saying it has ‘punished’ his children, as well as claiming he had only been told the news five days before it was made public – despite the Royal Household insisting the decision ‘has been a long time coming ‘.
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