In the Masterpiece Theater production, Atlantic Crossing, we are introduced to the little
known relationship between Crown Princess Martha of Norway and the thirty second President
of the United States Franklin Roosevelt, also known as F.D.R .
The 8 part mini-series, said to be a fictional work inspired by true events, suggests that
their personal relationship went beyond friendship into the realm of a love story but is this
completely true?
Let's start with the fact that Crown Princess Martha of Norway did, indeed, seek refuge
in the United States from the invasion of Norway by Nazi troops in 1940 while Crown
Prince Olav of Norway, along with his father, King Haakon, had set up a government-in-exile.
in London.
Crown Princess Martha of Norway and her husband, Olav had visited the United States just a
year before during Norwegian Royal Tour of the U.S. and had met both Franklin Roosevelt
and his wife, Eleanor.
And, it is said that King Olav, who was also a naval officer, became a secret emissary
to the US, making several trips to meet with President Roosevelt at the start of the World
War II in Europe.
So the royal family was well connected to the President of the US and when it came time
to secure the royal family’s safety, and protect the royal succession the Crown Princess
Martha and the children were eventually on a ship sailing to the United States.
It seems that, according to Norwegian author and royal researcher, Tor Bomann-Larsen, the
Crown Princess and her children were personally invited to the United States by Franklin Roosevelt,
himself.
And this is where much of the speculation that she and the president had a romantic
involvement comes from.
In 2016, Bomann-Larsen published a lengthy historical book about Norway’s royal family
entitled, The Homeland, which covers the years from the invasion of Norway by Nazi Germany
in 1940 until May 1945, when Crown Prince Olav triumphantly returns to a liberated Norway.
In the book, the author makes many statements about the interactions and relationship between
Crown Princess Martha and Franklin Roosevelt including how FDR first offered refuge to
the royal family and how he also helped arrange a home for her family with 140 acres on Pook’s
Hill, in Bethesda, MD.
The Norwegian author expounds upon what he calls, Roosevelt’s “infatuation” with
Crown Princess Martha.
He states that Roosevelt often invited Martha for dinner, lunch, tea at the White house.
She was also frequently invited to private luncheons and dinners for selected guests
of the White House.
She was the President’s guest at his home at Hyde Park, and also at the presidential
retreat in Maryland called Shangra-La.
He, in turn, was invited to visit her Bethesda home – particularly on those occasions when
Prince Olav had slipped quietly into the United States for a brief visit.
While promoting his book, Bomann-Larsen boasted of “new sources” of information for his
account of their Roosevelt’s relationship with the crown princess, including the diaries
of the Norweigaen palace chief, Wedel Jarlsberg.
The diaries give an account of the whereabouts of Crown Princess Martha in relation to the
movements of the American president during the course of her stay in the United States.
Bomann-Larsen told reporters: “We can check into almost any period of America’s World
War II history, and Martha is there.
When the Soviet Union was attacked by Germany in June 1941, everyone was waiting for Roosevelt.
Where, was he? He was having dinner with Martha.
When Pearl Harbor was attacked, Roosevelt had to make a call to cancel lunch with Norway’s
crown princess. before declaring war on Japan.
When Roosevelt launched his idea for an international plan for peace (later to be known as the United
Nations) it was done in Crown Prince Martha’s honour and his venue was the Norwegian Embassy
in Washington.
Add to that, Crown Princess Martha was by US President Franklin Roosevelt’s side in
his famous "Look to Norway” speech when he urged Americans to Look to Norway for inspiration
in winning the war.
Yet Bomann-Larsen said he could find no proof of any love affair or sexual relationship
between the two.
“He was infatuated with her, everything indicates that,” Bomann-Larsen said. “And
for her, it was expected that she be there for the president. She had everything to gain,
even though it must have been a strain on her.”
Martha championed Norwegian causes and charities throughout her four year stay in the US. She
traveled tirelessly throughout the US and Canada, happy to lend her name, make appearances
and speeches, and do whatever she could to be useful to her country’s sovereignty.
Funny enough, the Norweigan historian was quick to say that the relationship was more
than political and at the same time, he downplayed her political influence upon the president
of the United States.
According to Bomann-Larsen, the diaries indicate the two “did not talk politics.” Bomann-Larsen
thinks the crown princess provided more of a social outlet for a president under pressure.
And, their are other sources that allude to a romantic relationship.
According to Tatler.com, Roosevelt's son James stated that, 'There was no question that Martha
was an important figure in father's life during the war... there is a real possibility that
a true romantic relationship developed between the president and the princess.'
And Roald Dahl, who was an RAF pilot in Washington at the time wrote, 'The President has it in
his mind that he would like to sleep with her.'
Others just point to the fact that Roosevelt was such a womanizer that it would be no surprise
at all. He was notorious for enjoying feminine company and companions who were young and
attractive, intelligent and had a good sense of humour.
Martha embodied all these qualities.
The likelihood that anything improper was going on is probably just gossip. It is well
documented that Crown Princess Martha of Norway was very happily married to Prince Olav, and
from that conclusion all we can say is that Franklin Roosevelt was genuinely fond of both
Martha and Olav.
I made a video telling you all about the life of Crown Princess Martha of Norway. You can
find a link to that video below or simply subscribe to my channel to get more videos
on Fabulous, Fierce & Feisty Women In History.