Mette-Marit and Marthe-Louise

[michelleq]

What is the relationship between the sisters in laws? I remember before the wedding, Marthe-Louise was very supportive of her brother and Mette-Marit. Yet you never seem to see them together now except for holidays. Any feedback?

[Genevieve]

Well, for the latter half of the year, Martha Louise was in New York City with her family while Mette-Marit was in Norway and busy performing royal duties. Sort of hard to spend time together you're a continent apart.

For the first half of this year, whlie Martha Louise was back in Norway, she was on a book tour and Mette-Marit was busy with her schedule of royal duties and several trips abroad.

Also, both women have young families now. Before the wedding, Mette-Marit had Marius but neither had infants to take care of. Having children naturally takes time away from other things you might want to do or people you might want to spend time with. And now, Martha Louise is on maternity leave, while Mette-Marit has been battling morning sickness with her third pregnancy.

Just because you don't see many pictures of them together these days doesn't mean that they aren't close anymore. They could talk in private or communicate via other means. Their relationship isn't necessarily having problems just because the paparazzi haven't taken photos of them lately.

[Choles]

But, it must be said Martha and Mette-Marit are very very different...

And the diffrences have become very clear the last coouple of years...

Martha is a very grounded and earthly girl, who enjoys sports and loves to spend time in Norway. Martha and Aris circle of friends consists of norwegian artist, authors and culture figures... the princess is also focused on wearing norwegian design - and hardly ever comes of as a big spender..

Mette-Marit on the other hand, has upped her circle of friends after she marries Haakon, and prefers to spend time jetting of in Europe, shopping or hanging out with people like Marie-Chantal and Rosaro Nadal... or sunbathing in Brasil... and she loves designer clothing..

Her spening and shopping has actually upset alot of people in Norway....

[Reina]

Before MM even met Haakon she was fond of shopping. I guess, like me, instead of imagining one can wear designer clothes and just looking through magazines, she get them. More power to her for dressing how she probably has always dreamed. I hope Haakon is with her on the jet-set trips.

[norwegianne]

Originally Posted by Choles

But, it must be said Martha and Mette-Marit are very very different...

And the diffrences have become very clear the last coouple of years...

Martha is a very grounded and earthly girl, who enjoys sports and loves to spend time in Norway. Martha and Aris circle of friends consists of norwegian artist, authors and culture figures... the princess is also focused on wearing norwegian design - and hardly ever comes of as a big spender..

Mette-Marit on the other hand, has upped her circle of friends after she marries Haakon, and prefers to spend time jetting of in Europe, shopping or hanging out with people like Marie-Chantal and Rosaro Nadal... or sunbathing in Brasil... and she loves designer clothing..

Her spening and shopping has actually upset alot of people in Norway....

I'd say the most recent upsetting from the royal family has come from Märtha and her building permits. Most people understand fairly well that Mette-Marit's wardrobe demands another standard than theirs, and that shopping in stores she used to frequent before she was married is impossible, but why Märtha needs to have special building permits awarded to her house and at Bloksbjerg? That's a puzzle. And some have even gone out in the media and labelled Märtha as a liability to the Royal family.

[Alexandria]

Originally Posted by norwegianne

but why Märtha needs to have special building permits awarded to her house and at Bloksbjerg? That's a puzzle. And some have even gone out in the media and labelled Märtha as a liability to the Royal family.

Why does Martha Louise need special building permits? Is she making a special renovation to her home?

And are the complaints because of the noise level that might be created from such construction or because such a construction might obstruct the view or look of the neighbourhood?

[norwegianne]

There are special limits to how much people may build new/expand existing houses that are close to a certain "nature-border" or something like that, in Norway. Märtha and Ari's house is within the border, and they've been expanding it since they bought it (one of the reasons for their stay at the summer house). But as King Harald pointed out, they've applied to do it in the same way that other people do, without asking for special treatment about it. It's just that they get it.

The summer house property was also improved in some way that normal citizens might not have gotten approval to do.

It created some fuss in the papers.

[Josefine]

how far away doies märtha luoiuse live from her broher and Mette marit