There was a bizarre stand off at the royal-ish wedding of Princess Martha Louise of Norway and Durek Verrett this weekend. The couple, seemingly at the last minute, decided to do a walkabout after saying 'I do'. It was unexpected. They had announced last week that they'd sold exclusive rights to Hello and both had arrived at their venue hidden by sheets. Yet, just over an hour later they were strolling through the crowds which is where it all got heated. For both bride and groom turned on the press.
Princess Martha Louise, fourth in line to her country's throne, started to tell reporters and photographers to get out of the way so that the public could see her. 'They're more important that you' she said as she gestured at the media to move. Meanwhile, her new husband, US citizen Durek Verrett, said he'd been warmly welcomed to Norway by everyone bar the press. The battle lines were drawn before the cake was even cut.
It does seem a tad bizarre that a princess who has negotiated a pretty price for her wedding snaps with the media should be so angry towards, well, the media but there we have it. The rather unpleasant encounter was pretty typical of this whole nuptial spectacular. The daughter of the King and Queen of Norway, who gave up her royal role and patronages after concerns she was trading on her status for business purposes, set up a deal with a magazine for four days of material around her marriage only to seem confused when she was accused of.....trading on her status.
Add in a Netflix programme charting the couple's love story, a romance which has seen them claim to be reincarnated and to have once ruled Egypt side by side. and you can see why there has been criticism. Except if you're Martha and Durek. Then, it's just the press being mean. Unless you're the press paying for them to say things like ''our love has triumphed over everything'' in which case you are the last bastion of democracy.
The whole sorry show in the street underlines why royalty and celebrity just don't mix all that well. Martha had put her parents, King Harald and Queen Sonja, in an awkward position. The initial plan seemed to be for the whole shebang to take place behind closed doors and the royal family immediately let it be known they wouldn't be featuring in the magazine exclusive. This might be a private wedding but the royal family has public ties and telling Norway's population that they can only see the celebrations if they pay an online sub or buy a magazine is a bit shady, to be honest.
King Harald, 87 and on crutches, promptly marched down the gangplank of his royal ship in the rain, determined to be seen at all costs even if those costs included falling flat on his face in slippery conditions. He stayed upright and proceeded to lead the rest of his family in a number of public appearances outside the wedding celebrations, culminating in a new official portrait of them all together, sans Martha.
Suddenly, the bride and groom emerged from behind the giant sheets which had guarded their wedding looks and couldn't stop showing off their happiness. The top secret dress was suddenly on show along with the tiara choice and the mongrammed suit of the groom. They even stopped to pose for a wedding band photo. You can only surmise that behind the sheets, the couple had been told to wise up and put themselves out there, if not for their own sake then for the sake of their family. So they did. And then they got bossy. The bride ordered the press around and her new husband laid into them. Far from a fairytale ending.
For all the talk of 21st century royals being just like 21st century celebs, they really aren't - if they want to stay royal. It's quite appropriate for the Norwegian press and the Norwegian people to question why a Norwegian princess is selling her wedding to a magazine. It's more than OK to ask who is paying for the party when her family receives public money and it's hunky dory to question whether the couple are cashing in on their regal connections. Just because they don't like the scrutiny, doesn't make it wrong so taking on the press seems peevish and pointless.
There is plenty more exclusive content for Martha and Durek to share with the magazine and its readers and there's no doubt that everyone wants a looksie at a royal wedding. But this whole princess pushy act has added an element of tack that an already slightly class free wedding didn't need. Let's hope they honeymoon quietly and for a long time. Given that Netflix were with them, that's a slim chance.
Comments
Post a Comment