Märtha Louise: – Had been easier if I was a boy – NRK

We are back in the 1980s. Gro Harlem Brundtland was prime minister. Norway was about to become a more equal society. And Märtha Louise were King Harald and Queen Sonjas oldest children. But, according to the Constitution, she could not inherit the throne.

– There was a big debate when I was a teenager about how they should resolve this with the line of succession, because it was in a time where we already had many female leaders, and it was fought for equality.

” she says in an interview at skavlan talkshow sent Friday on NRK 1.

Discussed in the royal family

In the 80′s began the conversation in Parliament about whether or not women and men should be equal as arveberettigede.

SENSITIVE: As a guest at skavlan talkshow tells Märtha Louise that she was sensitive as a young man, and felt so much of the discussion about who should take over the throne.

Photo: Jonas Eriksson

Also in the royal family, this was a theme.

We talked about this in the family and discussed with the prime minister and the King. Everyone was discussing these things, ” she tells us in intervjustolen.

In 1990, when she was 24 years of age, was the Constitution changed. But as a transitional, it was decided that this did not concern Märtha Louise, since she was born before 1990.

At skavlan talkshow she tells that she wish she was a boy when the discussions continued.

– Because I’m so sensitive I felt enough that it would have been easier if I was a boy, we had released all of this, ” she says to the presenter Fredrik skavlan talkshow.

No real discussion in Parliament

Bill Willock was a member of parliament at the time. He tells us that there never were disagreements about who would get arveretten.

NO DISCUSSION: Kåre Willoch was a member of parliament when grunnslovsforslaget of equal inheritance rights was adopted. He tells us that all were agreed on the solution.

Photo: Nyhetsspiller

There was little discussion about this in the political environment. All were positive to the equal inheritance rights and Märtha Louise. But there was a widespread perception that since Haakon Magnus had already had arveretten was it strange to suddenly take it from him, ” says Willoch to NRK.

It was Willoch even suggested to colleagues in Parliament that Haakon Magnus should get to keep arveretten, and from then on there should be full equality. The proposal was unanimously adopted.

– Now we get the fortunately a female heir in the next generation. So all in all was well, this is a straightforward solution, ” says Willoch.