A man who sent a card to Princess Ingrid of Norway at her Australian college has denied he was stalking her - and says he just wanted to be friends with the young royal because she seemed like 'a nice person'.

David James Cooke, 63, appeared at Newtown Local Court on Wednesday when he was made the subject of a restraining order to protect the princess, who was studying at Sydney University until this week.

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.

A police spokesman told Daily Mail:  'About 10.20am today, officers from Inner West Police Area Command arrested a 63-year-old man after allegedly assaulting a cameraman outside Newtown Local Court.'

Before his arrest, Cooke had refuted claims 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.

'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'. 

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.

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.

Police later charged Cooke over the alleged scuffle with the photographer.

'A man has been charged for allegedly assaulting a journalist in Sydney’s inner west,' said a NSW Police spokesman.

'It will be alleged a 63-year-old man assaulted a photographic journalist – a man aged 43 – causing minor injuries.

'Officers arrested the older man at the scene where he was taken to Surry Hills Police Station and charged with common assault.

'The Glebe man has been granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on June 17.'

The princess cut short her studies in Sydney and flew home to Norway on Tuesday 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.

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.