Ari Behn: Märtha Louise remembers her ex-husband

Yesterday, December 25th, marked the fifth anniversary of the death of Ari Behn (1972-2019). The Norwegian writer and ex-husband of Princess Märtha Louise (53) died on Christmas Day 2019. The Norwegian princess and their three daughters paid tribute to him with emotional words.

The loss still hurts Märtha Louise, who was married to Behn from 2002 to 2017 – even though she is now happy in her second marriage to Durek Verrett (50). She wrote an emotional text: “Five years ago today it happened. What we never thought possible. Our dear Ari said goodbye to his life. It was a difficult time, a big learning experience on how to deal with grief “, it said there. “But also beautiful moments in which we remember all the good times we had together. Because grief is so diverse. And the worst time for all of us is Christmas.”

It is the time when the loss is greatest. She appealed: “I hope that you all have someone who can be there for you. That you can accept the love that surrounds you. Because there is always hope. Hope that better times are coming, hope that The love among us as humans is so strong that it can move mountains. Because now, in the darkest time of the year, it is more important than ever to reach out a hand.

The couple’s eldest daughter, Maud Angelica (21), also found emotional words. Alongside a selfie with her father, she wrote in English: “Today is five years since I lost my father to suicide. I can’t believe that the last time I said my loving father, I was 16 years old “So much has happened since then that he couldn’t be a part of. I miss him very much. I wish he was here.”

She also explained that the Christmas season is often the most difficult time. In the first year after the loss, not a day went by when she didn’t cry. Now things are getting a little easier with each passing year. The 21-year-old also appealed for solidarity: “Every act of kindness has so much more weight than you think. Suicide is not the only option. There is help.”

Leah Isadora Behn (19) shared several snapshots of a tattoo on her neck – she has the words “elsker deg” (German: “love you”) in her father’s handwriting. “Five years without you – love you dad,” she wrote.

Ari Behn and Princess Märtha Louise of Norway married in Trondheim in 2002. In addition to Maud Angelica and Leah Isadora, the two have a daughter Emma Tallulah (16). The Norwegian court announced the couple’s separation in August 2016, and the divorce was finalized in 2017. On December 25, 2019, Behn died by suicide in his home in Lommedalen near Bærum and was buried in Oslo in January 2020.

The telephone counseling service offers help with depression and suicidal thoughts on the free number: 0800/111 0 111