The former husband of Norway’s Princess Martha Louise has taken his own life, it has been announced tonight.
The 47-year-old talented author and artist leaves behind three young children, who he shares with the princess, 48.
“We ask for respect for our privacy in the coming time.”
In a statement this evening, King Harald, the princess’s father, said: “It is with great sadness that the Queen and I have received the message of Ari Behn’s passing.
“Ari has been an important part of our family for many years, and we carry warm, fond memories of him.”
A statement from the Crown Prince family added: “For us, Ari was a good friend, a dear family member and a wonderful uncle, with whom we shared many of life’s small and big moments.
“It is with great sadness that we have received the message of his passing away.”
No other details about his death have been confirmed.
Ari was born in Denmark to teacher parents and grew up in Norway.
He attended the Waldorf School in Moss and is baptized in The Christian Community. He achieved a bachelor’s degree in history and religion from University of Oslo.
He wrote three novels, two collections of short stories and a book about his wedding.
His 1999 short stories collection Trist som faen (“Sad as hell”) sold about 100,000 copies and received several favourable reviews.
