by Susan Flantzer © Unofficial Royalty 2014
Photo: Wikipedia
Former husband of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, Ari Behn, whose birth name was Ari Mikael Bjørshol, was born in Århus, Denmark on September 30, 1972. He was the eldest child of Olav Bjørshol (born 1952) and Marianne Solberg Behn (born 1953), both teachers of the Waldorf School philosophy. Ari had two younger siblings, Anja Sabrina Bjørshol and Espen Bjørshol Solberg, a film director. In 1996, Ari changed his name to Ari Behn when he took his maternal grandmother’s maiden name.
When Ari was young, his family moved to Plymouth, England for five years where his father trained and worked as a photographer. The family then moved to Norway in 1977. Ari attended the Waldorf School and Kirkeparken Videregående Skole (secondary school) in Moss, Norway. He then received a Bachelor’s degree in history and religion from the University of Oslo. Ari spent several years traveling in Africa, Asia, and the United States.
Before he had success as an author, Ari worked as a truck driver, bartender, and in a preschool. He had his literary breakthrough in 1999 with his collection of short stories, titled Trist som faen (Sad as Hell) which sold over 100,000 copies. He subsequently published two more books and in 2011 made his debut as a playwright with Treningstimen (Training Hour) which was staged at Rogaland Teater. His books have been translated into six languages: Swedish, Danish, German, French, Hungarian, and Icelandic.
In addition to his writing, Ari also had other artistic and creative projects. Along with Baron von Bulldog, a fashion design company in Oslo, he launched a collection in 2004. In 2007, he launched a very successful collection of glasses and dishes called “Peacock” for Magnor Glassworks. In addition, he made documentaries for television and worked as a writer for various publications including Dagbladet and Aftenposten.
Photo source: Svenskdam
On December 13, 2001, Ari became engaged to Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, the daughter of King Harald V of Norway. The couple was married in Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway on May 24, 2002. In August 2016, it was announced that the couple separated. They divorced in 2017.
Embed from Getty Images
Norwegian Royal family on the occasion of King Harald V’s 25th anniversary on the throne in 2016: Front: Queen Sonja, Prince Sverre Magnus, King Harald V; Back: Ari Behn, Princess Märtha Louise with Leah Isadora Behn and Emma Tallulah Behn, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Crown Prince Haakon, Maud Angelica Behn, and Princess Ingrid Alexandra
Ari Behn and Princess Märtha Louise had three daughters: Maud Angelica (born in 2003), Leah Isadora (born in 2005), and Emma Tallulah (born in 2008).
Sadly, Ari Behn died by suicide on December 25, 2019, at his home in Lommedalen, Norway. He was 47-years-old. His manager Geir Håkonsund made an announcement on behalf of his family: “It is with great sadness in our hearts that we, the closest relatives of Ari Behn, must announce that he took his own life today. We ask for respect for our privacy in the time to come.”
Behn’s funeral was held on January 3, 2020, at the Oslo Cathedral, with services conducted by Kari Veiteberg, Bishop of Oslo. His former brother-in-law Crown Prince Haakon was one of the pallbearers. The other pallbearers were his father Olav Bjørshol, his brother Espen Bjørshol, his brother-in-law Christian Udnæs, and nephews Ask and Isak. During the funeral service, Behn’s parents, his siblings, and his eldest daughter Maud Angelica Behn shared memories of their son, brother, and father. Ari Behn was buried at the Cemetery of Our Saviour in Olso, Norway.
Crown Prince Haakon, second from the left, was one of the pallbearers at the funeral of Ari Behn; Credit – http://www.royalcourt.no/
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