Commentary from Aftenposten re: the move.
http://www.aftenposten.no/meninger/kommentarer/article849443.ece
Noted
The Palace needs Princess Märtha Louise.
Princess Märtha Louise confirmed Sunday, while travelling in Murmansk, that she, Ari and Maud Angelica will be moving to New York in October.
WENCHE FUGLEHAUG
Murmansk
For how long the family will be gone, nobody knows right now. What is clear, however, is that the Palace needs Märtha. But of course nobody, neither at court or in the Royal family, who will deny them to move "over there."
Princess Märtha Louise is popular, and she represents, mostly, the Royal family and Norway in an excellent way. She has more than 30 invitations weekly from kindergartens, schools, libraries and various arrangements who wants her royal shine and sparkle. She is also high protector of several organisations, and is of course present in weddings and birthdays of family and friends in the royal European big family. She creates news around herself, her family and her country.
Everybody understands that she and Ari would like to spend a few years in the metropol of New York before they seriously settle down in Bærum where Maud Angelica will be starting school in 5 years. Even if she moves away for a few years it doesn't necessarily mean that she won't be helping the king and the rest of the family with the official assignments. But she will naturally represent in Norway, less for a while.
It means more work for King Harald, Queen Sonja and the crown prince couple. It will probably work just fine, but even if the king has been deemed well, he and Sonja are both 67 years old*. Neither of them are planning quieter days, but they probably feel that it's nice to be relieved from some of the duties at times. That relief firstly comes from Crown Prince Haakon, who said he wanted to take time off** when Ingrid Alexandra was born. It is not just the constitutional reasons why the time off hasn't happened yet. Also Royals can be stuck with too little time.
It is the female royals who're the most popular with the photographers and journalists. With Märtha abroad, there will be much more pressure on Sonja and Mette-Marit. In Murmansk SOS Children's Villages have received much press. A large group of reporters are along, because Märtha is. She has, as usual, done a good job, even if she seems a little tired, something she said she was because of the long journey. She's also very selective in which questions she answers, and makes her own conclusion to which she defines as personal or irrelevant. Norwegian and Russian journalists have all noticed.
But Märtha Louise sells almost anywa. No Royals, No Media coverage. The Organizations know it, and the Palace knows it. That's why Märtha is wanted back in Norway before she's even left.
*- 67 years is the mandatory Norwegian retirement age. The Royals, however, are not covered by it.
** - All Norwegian fathers have the option of taking a month off work when their children are born, or later, to spend it alone with the child. The mothers can be present, or they can go back to work in this time, allowing father and child to get to know each other.
