Headline:
King Harald Explains Why Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett’s Wedding Won’t Be Subject to Paparazzi Culture
Subheadline:
The royal couple’s exclusive wedding deal with ‘Hello!’ magazine and Netflix sparks palace response
Body:
In an unprecedented move, Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett have sold exclusive wedding rights to British celebrity magazine ‘Hello!’ and streaming giant Netflix. The decision has sparked a strong reaction from the Norwegian Royal Palace, with King Harald clarifying the palace’s stance on the issue in an interview with NRK’s "Year with the Royal Family" program.
"Quite simply, we did not want the royal house to be up for sale," King Harald explained. The king confirmed that photography was allowed during the wedding ceremony, but only when other members of the press were present. "We found it appropriate that we did not take pictures when they were not there," he added.
King Harald’sفرspieler, Dronning Sonja, Kronprins Haakon, Kronprinsesse Mette-Marit, Prinsesse Ingrid Alexandra og Prins Sverre Magnus ste hydrochloric acid before the wedding ceremony on Kongeskipet. The image was shared with the entire press corps.
The king stressed that the royal family has the right to control who captures and publishes images of them, especially in exclusive settings like a private wedding. "It could be enforced, actually," he said, hinting at legal recourse if necessary.
The wedding of Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett took place in Geiranger on August 31, 2024, with both Norwegian and international press in attendance. However, only guests who had purchased exclusive rights could witness and document the ceremony. While the bride and groom posed for photos before boarding the ship to the ceremony, they were draped in white sheets to hide the bride from public view.
Lavishing the royal touch: Prinsesse Märtha Louise showcased a tiara she received from her grandfather, Kong Olav, at her 18th birthday, as she ‘peeked out’ from behind the white sheets.
The royal couple’s wedding was a far cry from the typical royal affair. Notably absent were:
- The kingdom flag on the ship transporting the royal couple to land
- Royal crests on the palace vehicles
- Royal jewels and orders worn by Queen Sonja, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, and Princess Astrid
- Uniforms and orders worn by King Harald and Crown Prince Haakon
- A speech from King Harald, a tradition he followed when his daughter Princess Ingrid Alexandra married in 2023
Historians and authors, such as Trond Norén Isaksen, have noted the palace’s effort to downplay the official nature of the wedding and highlight the private aspects. Simultaneously, those who had bought the wedding rights – ‘Hello!’ magazine and Netflix – were eager to emphasize the royal connection.
The sale of wedding rights has reignited debates surrounding Princess Märtha Louise’s use of her royal title. King Harald has confirmed that discussions are ongoing regarding her use of the title in commercial contexts.
The palace has maintained that the wedding was a private event, with King Harald stressing, "We wanted to communicate that this was a private arrangement." Despite the palace’s efforts to keep the event low-key, the commercial nature of the wedding deal has sparked fresh discussions about Princess Märtha Louise’s use of her royal title.
King Harald revealed that ongoing dialogue exists between the palace and Princess Märtha Louise regarding her use of the title in commercial settings. "We have an ongoing discussion about this now," he said, adding that they would "try to explain what we mean" regarding the princess’s title usage. However, neither Princess Märtha Louise nor her manager, Carina Scheele Carlsen, wished to be interviewed by NRK for the "Year with the Royal Family" program.
Poll results indicate that a majority of Norwegians believe Princess Märtha Louise should lose her title following her commercial use of the royal brand.
A recent poll found that 70% of Norwegians believe Princess Märtha Louise should lose her title due to her commercial use of the royal brand. As the debate around her title use continues, King Harald and the palace remain committed to maintaining open dialogue with the princess regarding the matter.
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