Norwegian Princess Märtha Louise hails from a long line of Norse, Danish, and Swedish royalty. Her family is part of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, whose members include Prince Philip of Great Britain and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.

Upon first glance, Märtha Louise is a typical princess – the impressive royal pedigree, jewels, and a face wreathed in smiles as she fulfills her duties to the nation.

But all is not as it seems. Princess Märtha Louise of Norway is anything but typical …

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Born September 22, 1971 in Oslo, Märtha Louise (pronounced: MARE-tuh Luh-VEE-she) was the first child for Crown Prince Harald and Crown Princess Sonja, now King and Queen of Norway. She is fourth in line to the Norwegian throne after her brother Crown Prince Haakon and his two children.

Princess Märtha Louise and her brother spent their childhood at the royal family’s Skaugum estate. She attended Smestad school in the capital city Oslo, and completed her upper secondary education at Kristelig Gymnasium in 1990 with an emphasis on languages.

After completing her secondary education, Märtha Louise left Norway for Great Britain. Her love of languages and the written word had drawn her to the University of Oxford in England.

The princess also indulged in her favorite sport while in the UK. An avid equestrian, Märtha Louise is part of an elite tradition of show royal jumpers, including Monaco’s Charlotte Casiraghi, Princess Haya of Jordan, and Britain’s Zara Phillips. Märtha Louise trained extensively at the Waterstock House Training Centre, where regular programs helped riders expand their skills in the sport.

Two years later, Märtha Louise returned home to attend Bjørknes Privatskole, followed by a physiotherapy education program at Oslo University College. As a sportswoman herself, Märtha Louise wanted to learn how to assist those who suffered physical difficulties resulting from injury. In 1997 she was awarded her formal qualification as a physiotherapist, a skill that not many of her fellow princesses can claim!

Love and Marriage… and Business

In May 2002, Princess Märtha Louise married author Ari Behn at the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim. Her aunt, Princess Ragnhild, was distressed with Märtha Louise’s choice of a “Bohemian writer” as a spouse. Nor was King Harald’s sister pleased with Haakon’s choice of partner, either – the former drug addicted single mother, Mette-Marit Tjessem Hoiby.

Ragnhild declared that both commoners would make a negative impact on Norway and the royal family, but despite the acidic remarks, Märtha Louise and Ari seemed quite happy together. Their union has produced three daughters: Maud Angelica, Leah Isadora, and Emma Tallulah.

Just before the marriage, King Harald, with Princess Märtha Louise’s consent, removed his daughter’s style of Her Royal Highness and instead styled her as Her Highness. This move was made to distance Märtha Louise’s burgeoning business life from the life of the Royal Family, but she retained her title as a princess and her place in the line of succession. On occasion Märtha Louise still carries out royal duties on behalf of the King, though these duties have been greatly reduced in accordance with her reduced title.

Märtha Louise’s business ventures garnered just as much attention for the princess as did her royal duties. She has always loved Norwegian folk tales and even wrote her own children’s books, reading them for audiences all over Norway. The eclectic princess has even produced children’s programs, performed as a member of a folk dancing group at the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History, and has sung in a choir.

In 2007, Princess Märtha Louise expanded her work by announcing her plans to open a new alternative therapy center. She revealed to various media outlets that she had ‘psychic’ powers and that this new center would help others find their own powers within and create miracles in their lives. Interested parties pay $4000 USD or more for the privilege of attending.

The princess explained that as a child, she could read people’s inner feelings, while her experiences with horses had helped her make contact with angels. The palace, meanwhile, stated that it had no ties to Märtha Louise’s center and remained silent on her claims.

A spot of trouble

If people thought Märtha Louise’s announcement about her therapy center was surprising, her husband’s statement in a recent interview floored them.

Ari Behn caused a stir in September 2009 when he said in an interview that he often feels depressed. Behn further stunned the Norwegian court and the public by stating that his marriage to Märtha Louise was unraveling.

“I’ve thought about if I’m bipolar,” said Behn during his interview with the Norwegian magazine Massiv. “I have three wonderful daughters, which helps the mood a lot. But in general I’m chronically depressed, and it keeps getting worse, apparently.”

Behn admitted that as a husband he is “difficult to deal with” and hasn’t exactly been his in-laws’ “dream”.

Perhaps Princess Ragnhild’s prediction has partly come true.

It remains to be seen what will happen in the life of Princess Märtha Louise and her family. With Behn as a frequent voice in the media about their personal lives and the Princess herself being called “a quack”, King Harald has been asked to intervene.

On a state visit to South Africa, Queen Sonja was very blunt about the situation: “We are on a state visit. What we are concerned with is what is happening in South Africa. We have been lucky enough to be allowed to explore the development of the country.That is why we are here, and that’s what we want to share with you,” said the Queen.

Discretion is the better part of valor. Will the Princess and her husband be able to maintain dignity?