Maud Angelica Behn, the 22-year-old granddaughter of King Harald V of Norway, has become the first member of the Norwegian royal family to publicly come out as queer, announcing she is bisexual through an Instagram post celebrating Oslo Pride over the weekend.
The eldest daughter of Princess Martha Louise shared her identity with a series of photographs from Saturday’s Pride parade, where she wore clothing in fuchsia and purple colors that mirror the bisexual flag. “Happy Pride from a bisexual person! This year’s Pride was absolutely amazing and there was so much love,” Behn wrote on Instagram.
The historic announcement was immediately supported by her mother, Princess Martha Louise, who attended Norway’s largest LGBTIQ+ festival alongside her daughter and her second husband, American shaman Durek Verrett. The princess posted her own heartfelt message on social media embracing her daughter’s courage.
“Love is never wrong. This Pride Month, I want to honour the courage it takes to live your truth,” Martha Louise wrote on Instagram, sharing photos and videos from the parade. The royal emphasized that love “doesn’t ask for permission or explanation” and described the beauty of “daring to love who you love, even when the world tells you to be quiet, to shrink, or to hide.
Princess Martha Louise’s Instagram message continued with strong support for the broader LGBTIQ+ community. “But love isn’t meant to be hidden. It’s meant to be celebrated, lived and shared in all its wonderful forms,” she wrote, addressing those still struggling with their identity.
“To everyone out there still trying to find the words or the courage: You are seen, you are loved, and you never have to apologise for who you are,” the princess stated. She concluded by emphasizing that Pride represents both identity and freedom, describing it as “the bravery to be fully yourself in a world that often doesn’t make that easy.”
Behn, who was born on April 29, 2003, is fifth in line to the Norwegian throne but does not hold any royal titles. This is because her mother decided to give up royal duties in 2022 to “create a clearer dividing line” between her business activities and royal role, particularly after marrying Verrett in August 2024.
The announcement makes Behn the first openly LGBTQ+ member of the Norwegian royal family, marking a significant moment for representation within European royalty. Norway has long been considered progressive on LGBTQ+ rights, becoming one of the first countries in the world to enact anti-discrimination laws explicitly including sexual orientation in 1981.
Behn has previously made headlines for her creative pursuits, including competing in the Norwegian version of “Masked Singer” in 2022 and publishing her first book in 2021. She gained national attention with a moving speech at her father Ari Behn’s funeral in 2019 after he died by suicide.
The young royal’s announcement comes at a time when her family has been in the public eye for various reasons. Her younger sister, 19-year-old Leah Isadora Behn, recently criticized Norwegian rapper Kevin Lauren, 36, for releasing a song titled after her without permission. Speaking on the 370 podcast, Leah called it “the most disgusting thing anyone has done with my name.”
Princess Martha Louise’s marriage to Durek Verrett in August 2024 was a three-day celebration in Geiranger, Norway, attended by 350 guests including Norwegian and Swedish royalty. The princess, who is fourth in line to the throne, had previously been married to author Ari Behn from 2002 to 2017, with whom she had three daughters: Maud Angelica, Leah Isadora, and Emma Tallulah.
Despite stepping back from official duties, Martha Louise retained her princess title but agreed not to use it for commercial purposes. She has pursued alternative medicine and spiritual practices, including running her own alternative therapy center called Astarte Education.
Maud Angelica’s public declaration represents a generational shift in the Norwegian royal family’s approach to personal identity and public disclosure. Her openness about her sexuality at age 22 contrasts with the more traditional expectations historically placed on royal family members.
The announcement was met with widespread support on social media, with many praising both Behn’s courage and her mother’s supportive response. Photos from the Pride event showed mother and daughter embracing while Behn held both a bisexual flag fan and a Pride flag.
As Norway continues to be at the forefront of LGBTQ+ rights in Europe, Behn’s announcement adds another milestone to the country’s progressive stance, demonstrating that even within traditional institutions like the monarchy, there is room for authentic self-expression and acceptance.
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