Norwegian prince marries commoner-than-most bride

They arrived in stretched limos, not bicycles, as the cliché of Scandinavian royalty would demand, but Crown Prince Haakon and his bride did take a bow to ordinary Norwegians as they tied the knot yesterday at Oslo cathedral.

The star of Norway's first royal wedding for three decades was a cherubic four-year-old boy from a broken home, whose father was convicted for assault and has done time for possession of cocaine, and whose mother is perpetually unemployed; Marius was one of six children chosen to help slip the ring on the finger of the bride, 28-year-old socialite Mette-Marit Tjessem Hoiby.

The bishop conducting the ceremony had promised a "post-modern" wedding, but with a fairy-tale ending. For as the church bells gave the happy tidings to 120,000 people in the streets of Oslo, Marius found a new home just after his mother, now to be known as Crown Princess Mette-Marit, renounced her "debauched" youth.

The raging debate over the future of the monarchy abated for a day, but is sure to be rekindled when the honeymooners disappear from view. Norwegians are used to their royals marrying commoners – the current Queen Sonja is one – but Mette-Marit is commoner than most. A tearful account last week of her wild youth won her some sympathy, but has not altered the general view that she is totally unsuited to her designated role as Queen of Norway. However hard the tabloids talk up her background, a Cinderella she isn't.

Mette-Marit comes from an ordinary middle-class family. Her youth, by her account, was depraved rather than deprived. In a country of full employment, she has rarely worked, preferring parties, discos and raves. She was a waitress for a year and a half, dipped her toe into various courses – engineering, journalism and social anthropology – without completing any. For three years before becoming pregnant with Marius, she merely partied.

But Prince Haakon, a nerdy 28-year-old going on 50, is madly in love with her. King Harald, who himself defied his father over the choice of his bride, has warmly welcomed her into the bosom of the family. Oslo royal-watchers say Mette-Marit is more Fergie than Diana. The violent ex-boyfriend, a photographer, has a comprehensive portfolio on the Crown Princess. On Friday he said that pictures and stories about their stormy three-year affair were not for sale. But they will command a higher price when Mette-Marit becomes queen.