VARIOUS FACTS

A hotel strike in Trondheim earlier in the month threatened to wreak havoc on organisers' plans for the guests' accomodation and caused more than a few grey hairs but the conflict was resolved last week.

The Nidaros Cathedral dates back to medieval times and was the site of Viking coronations. It also was where Princess Martha Louise's own father, grandfather and great-grandfather were sworn in as kings of Norway.

The wedding dinner and reception took place at the royal property of Trondheim, Stiftsgården, a wooden mansion originally built in 1778. It is one of Norway's largest wooden structures. It served as a site for King Harald and Queen Sonja's 60th birthday celebrations in 1997 and this time it will also have a large tent in the garden, where the wedding dinner will be served.

Both Princess Märtha Louise and Ari Behn have admitted to suffering from wedding nerves, but both said that they're waving off criticism over everything from their choice of wedding colors (pink and green) to initial desires for lavish gifts. Märtha Louise said she's stopped reading the newspapers, in order to focus on what she thinks is important about the wedding, "instead of what everyone else thinks is important." The colour scheme has been critisized by expert designers who consider it too vivid. Princess Märtha Louise has however defended the choice of colours, saying they reflect the couple's "somewhat explosive" personalities.

Princess Märtha Louise and Ari Behn have wished for donations to the H.K.H. Prinsesse Märtha Louises Fond, instead of wedding gifts. The fund was founded on August 15, 1972, and its interest goes to aid handicapped children under 16 in Norway.

The flower girls at the wedding will be 9-year-old Madeleine Ferner Johansen, granddaughter of Princess Astrid Mrs Ferner, and 9-year-old twins Betina and Emilie Swanstrøm, daughters of Queen Sonja's nephew Dag Swanstrøm and his wife Anne Karine. The twins were already flower girls at the wedding of Crown Prince Haakon and Mette-Marit Tjessen Høiby in August 2001. 8-year-old Ask Andreas Bjørshol Grønsund is the son of Ari Behn's sister Anja Bjørshol and her former partner Are Grønsund.

On Tuesday Ari Behn and Princess Märtha Louise attended a late meeting with the design bureau behind the wedding program, and examined souvenirs prepared for the big occasion. Ari Behn told the press that he had put the finishing touches on his speech at the wedding dinner.

Also on Tuesday the head chef at the Britannia Hotel unveiled the four-course menu for the wedding dinner, which has also been prepared in cooperation with the bride and groom. The meal was tested by local celebrities, Trondheim's former mayor Marvin Wiseth and former Miss Universe Mona Grudt.

On May 23rd it was announced that Princess Märtha Louise will keep the name she carries since February 1st, 2002. She will be known as Princess Märtha Louise of Norway - without Royal Highness - rather than becoming Princess Märtha Louise Mrs Behn, as was decided for her aunts Ragnhild and Astrid.

The Royal Family will be in in Trondheim from May 22nd and the first guests will also be arriving on that date. The guests will be staying at Stiftsgården, on board the Royal Yacht Norge and at various hotels.