– This is a product that the bride and groom have sold to Hello Magazine and Netflix. We become part of the props to show that this is a well-followed bride and groom who do not get peace from the press, which they really want here. It is a good story that we are following them, says Sollien to news. In a comment in Aftenposten entitled “Play for the Netflix gallery”, she writes: “Had the press not been here, the Netflix documentary would have lost a central part of the plot: The chaos.” The camera team has followed the princess couple throughout the celebration. Photo: Christian Breidlid / news All the days the wedding celebration took place, the camera team filming for Netflix filmed the press corps in attendance. It was chaotic when the newlyweds met the people and the press on Saturday night, and the public got a glimpse of the newlyweds for the first time. Netflix filmed it all. Extra in a directed production? – Do you feel like an extra in a directed scheme that the bride and groom, with these actors in tow, have set up? – Yes and no. It is obvious that the press should cover this. The press has been with the royal family since 1905. It is not a private matter when someone in the line of succession marries, says Sollien and elaborates: – If something were to happen, so that Märtha ends up as Norway’s head of state, it is her spouse who will be given representation. So it’s not a private matter when they get married. – On the other hand, I have some doubts about the use of resources, the amount, the tender and so on. Because we become a kind of figure in the story that they want to tell in Netflix and Hello Magazine. It wouldn’t have been as good a story if we weren’t here, says Sollien. It has caused strong reactions that Princess Märtha Louise, who is number four in the line of succession to the Norwegian throne, and Durek Verrett have sold the rights to the wedding exclusively to the British celebrity magazine Hello Magazine and Netflix. Netflix has written in a press release that they have been following the couple for over a year. “The documentary provides a unique insight into one of the most talked about couples and their love story from beginning to date, and how they navigate their new life surrounded by constant public attention,” the streaming giant said. The press had to fight for space when the newlyweds appeared in public. Photo: Christian Breidlid / news Hidden bride When the couple said yes in Geiranger on Saturday, both Norwegian and international press were duly present in the village. But neither the press nor the public were allowed to witness the wedding. Only those who had bought the exclusive rights, Hello Magazine and Netflix, were allowed to document it. At the same time, the exit at the Hotel Union and the entrance to the tent where the couple were to be married were hidden with white sheets. This was not only the case before the wedding, but also after the wedding was over. Press officer for the wedding, Simon Eriksen Valvik, confirmed to news that it was to keep the pictures of the bride exclusive to the celebrity magazine Hello! and Netflix. – An exclusive agreement has been entered into which means that we have a partner who will have access to material. That was the background for it, Valvik told news. – I understand that the press will be disappointed, but we have been very clear about which parts would be open to the press in general. – As feared Reidun Kjelling Nybø, secretary general of the Norwegian Editors’ Association, has criticized that the rights to the wedding have been sold to the British celebrity magazine Hello! and Netflix, and that the general public is excluded. She believes the sheets show that this turned out as feared. – It looks a bit sad. And it gives a signal that in that way the public is to be shut out. It doesn’t look good from the point of view of us who are banned. This is as feared, says Nybø to news. She believes there will be a hole in the history books when the wedding of number four in the line of succession is kept closed to other than two selected media. – When you are not allowed to participate in this, then there will be something missing in Norway’s collective memory. There will be a hole in the storytelling in a way, says Nybø. The entrance to the tent where the wedding took place was also covered with white sheets both when the bride arrived and after the couple had been married in front of 350 guests. While the Netflix team big next door and filmed. Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB The bride hidden behind the sheet – the royal family shared a photo of themselves The royal family has admittedly not agreed to the exclusive photo deal and will not be photographed by Hello! and Netflix when the press otherwise does not have access. – I actually think it’s very good. In principle, I’m not particularly enthusiastic about boycotts, but in this context you give a signal that you want to say that the royal family does not want to participate in this sale of rights, says Nybø. While white sheets were supposed to keep the bride hidden from the public, the royal family posed for photographs on the Royal Ship before going to the wedding. The photo was shared with the entire press. Photo: Cornelius Poppe / NTB Published 31.08.2024, at 21.29 Updated 31.08.2024, at 23.25
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