A man accused of stalking Princess Ingrid of Norway has denied the allegations, insisting he merely wanted to befriend the young royal, whom he described as “a nice person.” The man, 63-year-old David James Cooke, faced Newtown Local Court on Wednesday, where a restraining order was issued to protect the princess, who recently concluded her studies at Sydney University.
After his court appearance, Cooke was involved in a scuffle with a photographer, leading to his swift removal by police officers to Newtown police station.
A spokesperson for the police informed the Daily Mail that at approximately 10:20 a.m., officers from the Inner West Police Area Command arrested a 63-year-old man for allegedly assaulting a cameraman outside Newtown Local Court.
Prior to the arrest, Cooke rejected the notion that he was stalking the 22-year-old princess. He explained that he had sent her a card purely to offer friendship, without any intention of causing her distress.
“I did not intentionally upset her in any way and wouldn’t do so,” Cooke told reporters.
‘I did not intentionally upset her in any way and wouldn’t do so,’ Cooke told reporters.
‘She’s a nice person. I bumped into her at an event and followed up with a card.’
Cooke, who had represented himself in court, did not disclose the precise contents of the card but he had ‘suggested some events she might be interested in’.
David James Cooke (above) sent a card to Princess Ingrid of Norway at her Australian college because he wanted to be friends with the young royal and she seemed like ‘a nice person’
Cooke appeared in Newtown Local Court on Wednesday, when he was made the subject of a restraining order to protect the princess (above), who was studying at Sydney University
But as Cooke left court, he was involved in a brief altercation with a photographer and was quickly led by uniformed police to Newtown police station
Asked if the card could have been perceived as threatening, Cooke said: ‘How it’s perceived is not my business but in fact it wasn’t threatening in any way.’
Cooke said he had apologised indirectly to the princess, who flew out of Sydney on Tuesday afternoon as her mother Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s health worsened.
‘I have actually conveyed that to somebody else,’ Cooke said. ‘And I’ve intended to convey that I don’t intend to be any threat to the girl.
‘I think it’s a bit salacious of you to continue on with this any further.’
The card was sent to St Andrew’s College at Camperdown, where the princess had been staying, and was intercepted by her security detail.
The princess was seven months into a three-year arts degree focused on international relations and political economy.
NSW Police attended the $45,000-a-year college last week to investigate what was originally described as a ‘suspicious’ letter. No charges were laid over the incident.
Cooke, from inner-city Glebe, had told Judge Alexander Mijovich he consented to a two-year apprehended violence order without making admissions of wrongdoing.
Cooke (above) denied he was a stalker and said he sent a card to the 22-year-old princess because he was ‘asking for friendship’, rather than threatening her
David James Cooke is the subject of a restraining order to protect the princess, who until recently had been studying in Sydney. She is pictured leaving the country on Tuesday
The order prevents Cooke from assaulting, threatening, stalking, harassing or intimidating Princess Ingrid or damaging her property.
It is not suggested Cooke has done any of those things, only that he is the subject of the AVO.
The order extends to anyone with whom the princess is in a domestic relationship, which Judge Mijovich explained included her parents and siblings.
Cooke also must not contact or try to find the princess, and must not go to where she lives or works, or approach her.
‘See her in Coles, you go down the road to Woolies,’ Judge Mijovich told him.
Cooke is unlikely to encounter the princess at a supermarket after she cut short her studies in Sydney and flew home to Norway to be with her family.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit is ‘gravely ill’ with pulmonary fibrosis, a debilitating lung condition that makes it difficult to breathe.
Princess Ingrid’s father, Crown Prince Haakon, recently flew home early from an official visit to Japan to be with his wife.
Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway has cut her bachelor’s degree at the University of Sydney short as her mother’s health worsens (she is pictured on campus in Sydney)
His 88-year-old mother, Queen Sonja, was also diagnosed with heart failure last week.
Princess Ingrid was photographed on Tuesday walking to the international departure gates, flanked by two airport employees.
She had maintained a low profile since beginning her studies in Australia, with the Royal House of Norway last year requesting the princess have a ‘normal’ university experience.
It is understood the princess had a 24-hour security team living with her at St Andrew’s College. It is unclear if, or when, she will return to resume her degree.
University of Sydney students are currently on a study break, with semester one exams set to start next week.
