Royally
Princess Mette-Marit
Cocaine and crime in the royal houses
Jenny Alexandersson
This is a commenting text. Analysis and positions are the writer's.
Updated 14.42 | Published 14.03
The story of Crown om Princess Mette-Marit's son Marius contains everything from violence, cocaine to mental illness.
But also years of worry and concern over a child with mental health diagnoses who grows up to be a violent man.
When the police arrested Marius on Sunday, August 4, it only took a second for the royal scenery to be torn down. The surface of royal status, popular love, lice cardigans and Norwegian frills were exchanged for horror and an insight into a royal life on the brink of disaster.
Marius, who has stood by the royal family all his life without title or royal responsibility, has a clear pattern of abusing his girlfriends. Both physically and mentally.
- The psychological violence was the most brutal for me, writes ex-girlfriend Juliane Snekkestad on Instagram.
She came forward to support the recently knitted woman. Today, a third woman came forward, Nora Haukland, who was with Marius until last year.
The young woman affected by Marius' rage and acts of violence two weeks ago had visible head injuries, a concussion and had to endure strangulation. A knife was embedded in the bedroom wall. Her apartment was vandalized. The place where you should feel the safest.
Violence, addiction, mental illness and crime are everywhere, even in the royal families.
They have never been an exception, even if we - and especially they themselves - would like to be regarded as morally good examples.
Nowadays, it is difficult to hide royal scandals.
It was easier before.
Back then it was punishable to talk about the crimes and blemishes of royalty. Breach of majesty was one of the worst crimes one could commit during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Thanks to the fact that there is no longer a widespread culture of silence around royal families, events like this can be noticed.
We should be happy about that.
Men's violence against wonen is a social problem.
Marius' latest girlfriend has not commented on the incident. It wasn't her who called the police either, it was her friend.
Being with a member of the royal family can create an imbalance in power. Such a person has access to lawyers, advisors, security personnel and knowledge that ordinary people do not have.
Marius called and threatened his girlfriend the night after the assault.
Mette-Marit has also made at least one call to the crime victim. Certainly with all good intentions and concern, but she is not just any mother, she is the future queen of Norway and there is also a power factor in such a conversation.
The Norwegian court denies that they gave advice to Marius after the night of the assault. They want to distance themselves from the incident. He is not part of the royal house and therefore they do not need to comment on the matter.
But he is part of the royal family and everything he does and says rubs off on the royal house.
In a statement, Marius admits assault and vandalism. He apologizes to his girlfriend and his family. He tells us that he has an addiction to alcohol and cocaine and that he has several mental health diagnoses.
It is an explanation for the incident, but not an excuse.
This is crisis management at a high level. But also brave. It is not easy to open the door to one's innermost feelings.
We can only hope that Marius means everything he writes. That he should once again seek help for his addiction.
Now the legal process must be allowed to run its course.
Above all, the vulnerable woman must receive help and support. The physical and mental wounds that the incident gave her will take time to heal.
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