Norway: Princess gives up royal duties amid fiancé questions

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Princess Märtha Louise, the daughter of Norway’s King Harald, said Tuesday she no longer will officially represent the Norwegian royal house following “many questions relating to me and my fiancé's role.”

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 Märtha Louise served as a patron subsequently ended its connection with the princess.

“I have decided that at the present time I will no longer carry out official duties for the royal household,” she said in a statement issued by the palace, adding that the decision was made in coordination with her parents “to create peace around the royal household.”

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.

“I am sorry that the princess will no longer represent the royal house,” Harald said during a press conference about the issue. The 82-year-old king said that “we agree to disagree.”

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“We have looked at this process from all sides,” his wife, Queen Sonja added. “This has been a unanimous decision."

Harald said Verret “probably thought he could do anything without it affecting us.”