Another royal plans an escape after Princess confirms intentions to move to the US

Princess Martha Louise of Norway has spoken out on her plans to follow Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to start a new life abroad

Princess Martha Louise of Norway, Norwegian Princess Martha Louise visits Kurland School on March 7, 2018 in Sarpsborg, Norway.
(Image credit: Rune Hellestad - Corbis / Contributor Getty)

Princess Martha Louise of Norway has confirmed plans to move to America to start a new life with her partner Durek Verrett. 

The Princess will become the latest royal to leave her home country in favor of starting a new life in the States and it comes a year after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle settled into their new life in America, finally residing in Los Angeles.

Princess Martha, 49, the only daughter and elder child of King Harald V and Queen Sonja, hasn't seen her boyfriend since he left Norway at Christmas, and it seems the couple who spent six months apart following the first lockdown, cannot bear to be apart much longer.

Durek is in Los Angeles and Princess Martha, who has three daughters Maud, 17, Leah, 16, and Emma, 12 to late husband Ari Behn, has revealed plans to move to the US. Speaking about her long-distance relationship she told VG, "It hurts extremely, a feeling I share with many others in the same situation. But the worst thing is not to know when we see each other next time. Right now it is Covid and difficult to plan, but we plan to move with time. The children will of course join."

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Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (C) pose with (L-R) Princess Martha Louise of Norway, Harald V of Norway, Queen Sonja of Norway, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Crown Princess Mette Marit of Norway and Princess Astrid of Norway ahead of a dinner at the Royal Palace on day 3 of their visit to Sweden and Norway on February 1, 2018 in Oslo, Norway

(Image credit: Chris Jackson / Staff Getty)

The Princess, who met with Prince William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, ahead of a dinner at the Royal Palace in Oslo on the third day of their 2018 visit to Sweden and Norway, confirmed that they will keep their home in Lommedalen. She explained with a smile, 'We must have a home in Norway. We'll still be here a lot. We can not leave beautiful Norway completely.'

While Durek has previously hinted at marriage on social media, Princess Martha confirmed, "No, it is not." 

Princess Martha Louise of Norway had previously lived in London with her former husband Ari and their daughters for two years from 2012 to 2014. The couple separated in 2016 before divorcing in 2017 and Ari took his own life, aged 47.

At the time Princess Martha said, 'We are so infinitely sad and sorry for the loss of you because you were the girls’ warm, funny, wise and good dad that they so dearly miss,' she wrote. 'We miss the funny comments, your fine viewpoints, the poetic tone, the overflowing compliments, the great love you had for them.'

Durek did once plan to move to Norway but changed his mind following criticism he received and the drama surrounding Ari's death and Covid added to the difficulty.

But Princess Martha Louise of Norway revealed her hopes for her children when it comes to growing up as a royal, she stressed, "I hope, although I can not say that I believe, that they are respected as private individuals, and that they get the opportunity to choose when they want to be in public and not.'

Selina Maycock

Selina is a Senior Entertainment Writer with more than 15 years of experience in newspapers and magazines. She has covered all things Entertainment for GoodtoKnow, Woman&Home and My Imperfect Life. Before joining Future Publishing, Selina graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2006 with a degree in Journalism. She is fully NCTJ and NCE qualified and has 100wpm shorthand.