Tragic Norwegian ex-Royal Ari Behn is laid to rest at emotional funeral

Members of the Norwegian Royal Family today led the mourners who turned out to pay their respects at the funeral of Ari Behn, the ex-husband of Norway’s Princess Martha Louise.

A solemn Princess Martha Louise was joined by Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Queen Crown Princess Mette-Marit and King Harald at the Olso Cathedral. 

Princess Martha Louise’s new boyfriend, shaman Durek Verrett, 44, who is linked to Gwyneth Paltrow did not appear to be in attendance at the event. 

Among the mourners and relatives who gathered in the cathedral was NATO Secratary General Jens Stoltenberg and his wife Ingrid Schulerud. 

Princess Martha Louise put a protective arm around her daughters as they left the funeral on Friday afternoon 

Princess Martha Louise pictured with her daughters after attending the funeral service 

Members of the Norwegian Royal Family gather outside Oslo Cathedral after the funeral of Ari Behn on Friday afternoon

Family members carry Ari Behn’s casket out of Oslo Cathedral

Norway’s Princess Martha Louise (right) and her daughters Emma Tallulah Behn, Leah Isadora Behn and Maud Angelica Behn place flowers on the coffin of Ari Behn

Maud Angelica Behn and her mother, princess Martha Louise during the funeral of Ari Behn

(From left to right) Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Queen Sonja, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and King Harald attend the funeral of Ari Behn

Mourners gathered during the funeral of Ari Behn, ex-husband of Norway’s Princess Martha Louise, at Oslo Cathedral

Also in attendance were foreign royals Princess Petra Laurentien Brinkhorst of the Netherlands and Prince Daniel of Sweden, the husband of Crown Princess Victoria who was unable to attend the service after her daughter was involved in a skiing accident on Thursday. 

The service was conducted by the bishop of Oslo, Kari Veiteberg. 

Outside the cathedral, thousands of people gathered in silence from as early as 6am to pay their own respects.

Maud Angelica Behn (centre left) and her mother, Norwegian Princess Martha Louise (centre right) stand behind the coffin of Ari Behn

Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands (C-L) and Prince Daniel of Sweden (C-R) arrive for the funeral of Ari Behn

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and his wife Ingrid Schulerud arrive for the funeral of Ari Behn

Ari’s eldest daughter Maud Angelica delivered an emotional eulogy to her late father during the course of the service. 

Princess Martha Louise, and her daughters Emma Tallulah Behn, Leah Isadora Behn and Maud Angelica Behn then proceeded to place flowers on the casket of the Princess’ ex-husband.  

Son-in-law to Norway’s King Harold, Ari Behn committed suicide on Christmas Day. 

The Norwegian author, playwright and visual artist died at age 47, leaving behind their three children Maud, 16, Leah, 14, and Emma, 11. Ari killed himself just a year after admitting he felt like a ‘clown’ following the divorce from the Norwegian royal.

In a statement, the Swedish royals said of his sudden death: ‘It is with great sadness that we received the message of Ari Behn’s death. 

‘We will remember Ari as the warm, cordial and spiritual man he was. It was a privilege to get to know Ari. Our thoughts go to his daughters and family.’ 

Princess Martha Louise and Ari Behn pictured in 2016. The father-of-three separated from Princess Martha Louise, 48, to whom he was married for 15 years, in 2017

The father-of-three separated from Princess Martha Louise, 48, to whom he was married for 15 years, in 2017. 

Princess Martha Louise announced in May 2019 that she was in a relationship with Verrett. 

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden was not present at the funeral after her seven-year-old daughter, Swedish Princess Estelle, broke her leg in a skiing accident in the Alps on January 2.

The Swedish royal, 42, is lifelong friends with Princess Martha, 48, and reportedly cancelled all her festive plans to travel to Norway and support her friend in the wake of her ex-husband’s death.