By Nika Shakhnazarova
A young royal has become the first member of the Norwegian royal family to publicly come out as queer.
Maud Angelica Behn, the eldest daughter of Princess M盲rtha Louise, attended Oslo鈥檚 Pride Parade over the weekend where she decided to share the news.
Taking to Instagram following the event, Behn shared a series of photos on social media in which she鈥檚 dressed in various colors 鈥 likely mirroring the rainbow Pride flag.
鈥淗appy Pride from a bisexual person,鈥 she captioned her Instagram post. 鈥淭his year鈥檚 Pride was absolutely amazing and there was so much love.鈥
Her mother, Princess M盲rtha Louise, also made sure that her support was noted, as she attended Norway鈥檚 largest LGBTIQ+ festival with her second husband, American shaman Durek Verrett.
The royal, who also has daughters Leah Isadora and Emma Tallulah with her first husband Ari Behn, who died by suicide in 2019, took to social media to share a sweet message about her daughter鈥檚 announcement.
鈥淟ove is never wrong. This Pride Month, I want to honor the courage it takes to live your truth,鈥 M盲rtha Louise wrote on Instagram alongside photos and videos from the parade.
鈥淒uring Pride I see a deep capacity for love 鈥 love that doesn鈥檛 ask for permission or explanation. There鈥檚 something profoundly beautiful about daring to love who you love, even when the world tells you to be quiet, to shrink, or to hide.鈥
鈥淏ut love isn鈥檛 meant to be hidden. It鈥檚 meant to be celebrated, lived, and shared in all its wonderful forms,鈥 she went on.
鈥淧ride is not just about identity. It鈥檚 about freedom. It鈥檚 about the bravery to be fully yourself in a world that often doesn鈥檛 make that easy.鈥
鈥淭o everyone out there still trying to find the words or the courage: You are seen, you are loved, and you never have to apologize for who you are. 馃彸锔忊嶐煂 Happy Pride,鈥 the princess concluded.
M盲rtha Louise, for her part, made headlines last year after tying the knot with the American self-professed shaman in a wedding ceremony following three days of festivities.
The princess wed Verrett, who claims to be a sixth-generation shaman from California, in the small town of Geiranger. The location is prized for its typical Norwegian scenery among mountains and fjords.
Following the pair鈥檚 engagement in 2023, M盲rtha Louise鈥檚 father, King Harald V, said that his family was 鈥渄elighted to welcome鈥 Verrett.
The Norwegian princess can trace her ancestry back to Britain鈥檚 Queen Victoria.
The couple, who toured the country in 2019 as 鈥淭he Princess and The Shaman,鈥 have created waves in Norway with their alternative beliefs.
M盲rtha Louise gave up her royal duties in 2022 to pursue alternative medicine with her partner by launching a joint business.
The princess decided to keep her royal title 鈥 but abdicated her official duties to 鈥渃reate a clearer dividing line鈥 between her roles.
Since meeting Verrett, M盲rtha Louise has claimed she can talk with angels. Her partner, for his part, claims that he communicates with a broad range of spirits, wields ancient medicine and has a medallion that helps ward off heavy energies, spells and darkness.
And while Verrett has officially joined the Norwegian royal family, he does not have a title.
Although Princess M盲rtha Louise is the first child of King Harald V, her brother, Crown Prince Haakon, who is two years younger than her, will succeed his father as king.
The Norwegian Constitution was altered in 1990 to allow the firstborn, regardless of gender, to take precedence in the line of succession.