Sending a ‘friendship’ letter to the Norwegian Princess, a 63-year-old man receives an unexpected ‘outcome’ from the court
A security incident involving a member of the Norwegian royal family has been resolved by a Sydney court, highlighting growing concerns regarding personal privacy and safety. David James Cook, 63, has been officially served with a two-year apprehended violence order (AVO) following disruptive actions directed at Princess Ingrid Alexandra.
Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 22, had been pursuing studies in politics and international studies at the University of Sydney. However, she has since put her studies on hold to return home as her mother’s health worsens. Her mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, suffers from a chronic lung condition and is being considered for a transplant, with her health deteriorating faster than medical teams had anticipated.
During the legal proceedings, details regarding Cook’s behavior were clarified. He had sent a letter to the Princess’s university address in an attempt to initiate personal contact. When questioned by the media outside the court regarding his intentions, Cook stated: “I sent her a card just asking for friendship, that’s all,”. He elaborated on the content of the letter, adding: “[The card] suggested some events she might be interested in,”. When asked if the message could be perceived as threatening, Cook replied: “How it’s perceived is not my business,” and maintained: “But in fact it was not threatening in any way.”.
The tension extended beyond the courtroom. Shortly after departing from Newtown Local Court, Cook became involved in a scuffle with reporters present at the scene, resulting in a photographer being knocked to the ground. This altercation led to his immediate return to police custody.
Under the strict conditions of the AVO, Cook is prohibited from entering the University of Sydney, barred from searching for the Princess’s name on platforms like Google, and strictly forbidden from any form of contact with Princess Ingrid Alexandra or the royal family.
