Princess Märtha Louise’s world shattered into 1,000 pieces four years ago

It was a tragedy that shocked the entire royal world. Märtha Louise from Norway (51) was married to Ari Behn (†) from 2002 to 2017. After 15 years of marriage, the daughters of King Harald (86) and Queen Sonja (86) separated from the artist. While the princess found new love and will even get married for a second time in 2024, the world became even darker for her ex-husband with each passing day. Until the catastrophe happened on December 25, 2019: Ari Behn chose suicide.

Princess Märtha Louise’s world shattered into 1,000 pieces four years ago

Behn described his new life after his separation from Märtha Louise as “hell” to a Norwegian newspaper. The reason: He felt extremely lonely because most of his three children lived with Mama Märtha. The Norwegian suffered from depression for a long time, but only a few people he knew knew how bad he was really feeling. On December 25, 2019, the artist saw no other way out – he took his own life. It was his father, Olav Bjørshol, who found him. For Märtha Louise of Norway, her family and her three daughters, the world shattered into 1,000 pieces.

Ari Behn’s daughter Maud Angelica became a courageous heroine at his funeral

Ari Behn was finally buried on January 3, 2020. Together with his parents, siblings and friends, the Norwegian royal family also mourned his death. Crown Prince Haakon of Norway (50) was one of the pallbearers at the time, paying his last respects to his former brother-in-law. King Harald said of his ex-son-in-law’s death: “Ari was an important part of our family for many years and we carry warm, loving memories of him with us. We are grateful that we were able to get to know him. We are sad that our grandchildren have now lost their dear dad – and have deep sympathy for his parents and siblings, who have now lost their beloved son and brother”. Words that truly touch the heart.

Ari’s daughter Maud Angelica Behn touched the world even more at his funeral. The now 20-year-old stood in front of the lectern at the age of 16 with a self-painted photo of her dad in her hand. In front of the world, she talked about her father as a “sparkling diamond” – and also talked about his suicide. Her greatest wish at the time: to hug her beloved father “one last time”. Since Ari Behn’s suicide, Maud Angelica has put her heart and soul into helping people with depression and their relatives. She inherited Ari’s creative side: paints, writes and speaks about her grief. Maud Angelica has already received several awards for her courageous commitment and remembers her dad so fondly.

Märtha Louise from Norway struggles with depression herself

And yet love, solidarity and support are not always enough to get over such a severe blow of fate. In several interviews, Märtha Louise from Norway spoke about her own depression that struck her after her ex-husband’s suicide. The princess is happy again today and will marry her fiancé Durek Verrett (49) on August 31, 2024 – but she will never forget the father of her children. And his death still hurts today. On her ex-husband’s 50th birthday in September 2022, Märtha wrote on Instagram: “I just wanted to tell you that we are thinking of you and that you would have been very proud of our children. We put muffins on your grave and the birthday song sung so loudly for you that you must have heard it far beyond the Pearly Gates”. The 51-year-old always seeks supernatural contact with Ari Behn and, as a spiritual person, is convinced that she can get in touch with him despite his death. And Märtha Louise of Norway will certainly remember him on the fourth anniversary of Ari’s death, light a candle for him – and cry for the father of her daughters.