COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) 鈥� Princess M盲rtha Louise, the daughter of Norway鈥檚 King Harald, said Tuesday she no longer will officially represent the Norwegian royal house following 鈥渕any questions relating to me and my fianc茅's role.鈥�
The 51-year-old princess, who is fourth in line to the Norwegian throne, got engaged in June to Durek Verrett, an American who describes himself as a shaman and a healer on his website.
At least one foundation for which M盲rtha Louise served as a patron subsequently ended its connection with the princess.
鈥淚 have decided that at the present time I will no longer carry out official duties for the royal household,鈥� she said in a statement issued by the palace, adding that the decision was made in coordination with her parents 鈥渢o create peace around the royal household.鈥�
The princess will retain her title, but the palace said she informed the organizations where she still served as patron that she was relinquishing the role.
Her younger brother, Crown Prince Haakon, 49, is the heir to the throne.
鈥淚 am sorry that the princess will no longer represent the royal house,鈥� Harald said during a press conference about the issue. The 82-year-old king said that 鈥渨e agree to disagree.鈥�
鈥淲e have looked at this process from all sides,鈥� his wife, Queen Sonja added. 鈥淭his has been a unanimous decision."
Harald said Verret 鈥減robably thought he could do anything without it affecting us.鈥�
鈥淗e must also take into account what we stand for,鈥� Sonja said.
The palace statement said the couple would 鈥渃larify the distinction between their own activities and the royal household鈥� and will not use the title of princess or refer to royals in social media or commercial activity.
Bo Gleditsch, secretary-general of the Norwegian Rheumatism Association, told Norwegian news agency NTB it was 鈥渁n orderly and wise decision from our patron.鈥�
鈥淪he has resolved this on her own initiative, and that鈥檚 good," Gleditsch told NTB.
Norwegian media have accused M盲rtha Louise and Verrett of allegedly using her royal title for commercial gain along with promoting alternative health care methods.
On Instagram, M盲rtha Louise said 鈥淚 believe that alternative methods can be an important supplement to the established medicine."
Verrett, 47, will not have a title or represent Norway鈥檚 royal house when he and M盲rtha Louise marry, according to the statement. The pair, who have been together since May 2019, according to Norwegian media, will attend family-related occasions and traditional royal events.
M盲rtha Louise has three daughters from her first marriage, which ended in 2016. According to Norwegian media, she plans to relocate to California with them. The palace did not say whether the change for M盲rtha Louise would have any effect on her daughters.
Alongside her royal duties, the princess has written books in which she claimed to have contact with angels.
A poll published by Norway鈥檚 Dagbladet newspaper last month had 68% of respondents saying they wanted to keep the monarchy. When Norwegian broadcaster NRK asked the same question in 2017, support for the royal house stood at 81%.
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This story corrects the age of M盲rtha Louise to 51 and corrects that Crown Prince Haakon is her younger, not older, brother.
Jan M. Olsen, The Associated Press
