Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway celebrates her 23rd wedding anniversary with her husband Crown Prince Haakon, just days before she leaves for the wedding of Norwegian Crown Princess Martha Louise to Durek Verrett.
Even after more than two decades, it’s still one of the most memorable royal weddings, especially since the couple has struggled with controversy throughout their love story. Check out all their unconventional moments…
Striking entrance at the wedding
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On August 25, 2001, the couple broke with royal tradition. Instead of the groom waiting at the altar while the bride made her grand entrance, Haakon was photographed waiting for Mette-Marit in front of Oslo Cathedral so that they could walk down the aisle together.
© GettyMette-Marit looked stunning in a simple wedding dress made of heavy silk crepe with a corset bodice and a flared skirt with a two-meter-long train. She added a bold splash of color to her bridal outfit with her long bouquet of roses, purple and white vanda orchids and roses.
She secured her six-meter-long veil with the Diamond Daisy Bandeau tiara, which was reportedly given to her by Haakon’s parents, King Harald V and Queen Sonja, who were among their relationship’s biggest supporters.
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After the couple’s modern ceremony, which featured music from internationally renowned Norwegian jazz musician Jan Garbarek, they waved to the crowd on the balcony of the Royal Palace. Mette-Marit was accompanied by her son Marius, who acted as page boy and sported platinum blonde hair.
Controversial love story
Mette-Marit (née Tjessem Høiby) was the first to admit that she went through a “wild” phase before meeting her husband, which probably influenced her down-to-earth approach to joining the royal family.
The former waitress was a single mother of her four-year-old son Marius from a previous relationship when the couple were introduced to each other by mutual friends in 1999.
Crown Prince Haakon spoke about his first impressions of Mette-Marit in an interview to mark their 20th anniversary. “The bright girl from the south impressed me. You notice it when Mette enters a room. There is a power there that is not easy to miss. And it was nice to talk to her,” he enthused to NRK Radio.
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Mette-Marit and Prince Haakon announced their engagement in December 2000 and lived together until they married eight months later, which was considered controversial at the time.
Because of her different backgrounds, many royal fans saw her as a modern-day Cinderella. In a press conference shortly before the royal wedding, she spoke about her “youthful rebellion,” saying: “My youthful rebellion was much stronger than many others. That led to me living quite a wild life.”
“I would like to take this opportunity to say that I condemn drugs. I cannot make those decisions again, even if I would like to. I hope that now I can avoid talking any more about my past and that the press will respect that wish.”
The royal couple have a daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, and a son, Prince Sverre Magnus, born in 2004 and 2005 respectively.
READ: Princess Elisabeth copies the satin dress of her wedding guests from three years ago
