Marianne Behn Honours King Harald V With Photo of Late Son Ari Behn
Marianne Behn, the former mother-in-law of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, has paid tribute to the late King Harald V with an Instagram photograph of the king alongside her late son, Ari Behn Hello!.
The image, taken by the photographer Rune, shows Harald ascending a wooden staircase beside Behn. Behn's caption read: "These two can still teach us all about love. King Harald V and Ari Behn," followed by two red hearts and a white dove emoji Dagbladet.
King Harald V died at the age of 89 at Oslo University Hospital, where he was being treated for a rare blood condition. A first funeral service was held the following Sunday at the Lutheran Church of Asker, attended by King Haakon VIII, Queen Sonja, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, and Prince Sverre Magnus Hello!.
The bond between the royal family and the Behn family stretches back two decades. Ari Behn, an author and artist born on 30 September 1972, met Princess Märtha Louise — daughter of King Harald V — through his mother, who was the princess's physiotherapy tutor. The couple married in Trondheim in May 2002 and were together for 15 years before divorcing in 2017. They had three daughters: Maud Angelica, Leah Isadora, and Emma Tallulah Hello!.
Behn died by suicide on Christmas Day 2019. His death was confirmed by King Harald V and Queen Sonja, and his funeral was held at Oslo Cathedral. At the service, King Harald escorted his daughter Märtha Louise into the church. Behn's father, Olav Bjørshol, was present; his mother Marianne was 66 years old People; VG.
The king later spoke about Behn in his New Year's address, focusing on mental health Se og Hør.
The relationship between the palace and the Behn family was not without its strains. King Harald chose not to attend when Behn's parents, Marianne Solberg Behn and Olav Bjørshol, remarried in 2007 VG. Yet it later emerged that the king and queen wished to maintain a good relationship with Ari Behn after the divorce VG. Behn himself publicly wished Märtha Louise and her then-partner Durek Verrett "all the luck and love they could get" VG.
Marianne Behn and Olav Bjørshol were both teachers involved in the Steiner/Waldorf education movement Se og Hør. Behn has spoken openly about her grief and about why she was not invited to Princess Märtha Louise's wedding to Durek Verrett Se og Hør.
Norwegian celebrities joined the mourning for the late king, with Se og Hør reporting that figures including Marianne Behn shared tributes Se og Hør.
