Princess Märtha Louise of Norway recently married Durek Verrett, an American self-styled shaman, in a wedding that has sparked significant debate across Norway.
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| Norway’s Princess Martha Louise and Durek Verrett arrive for their wedding party, in Geiranger, Norway, Saturday Aug. 31, 2024. (Heiko Junge/NTB via AP) |
The couple exchanged vows in a private ceremony held at a hotel in Geiranger, Western Norway, on Saturday, following two days of celebrations. Unlike other royal weddings that typically attract large public crowds, only a few people were present.
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| Norway’s Princess Martha Louise and Durek Verrett arrive for their wedding party, in Geiranger, Norway, Saturday Aug. 31, 2024. (Heiko Junge/NTB via AP) |
Views of the couple during the ceremony were covered by a tent or white sheets, as they had sold exclusive rights to Hello! Magazine, while a documentary crew from Netflix also covered the event. The presence of these major media companies caused controversy, particularly because local outlets were largely excluded.
Norway’s King Harald and Queen Sonja, along with other members of the royal family and royals from Sweden and the Netherlands, attended the wedding. Princess Märtha Louise’s three daughters from her previous marriage to the late Norwegian writer Ari Behn were also present.
Around 350 guests attended the event, though there was no clear indication that Mr. Verrett’s supposed A-list American friends, including actress and wellness entrepreneur Gwyneth Paltrow, were among them. However, Cynthia Bailey, a reality TV star from "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," was reportedly in attendance.
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Princess Märtha Louise, 52, and Mr. Verrett, 49, announced their engagement in 2022. Their relationship has been a source of division within Norway. Despite this, King Harald has publicly expressed his support for Mr. Verrett, describing him as “a great guy” and sharing that they “laughed a lot, even in this difficult time.” The Norwegian palace announced in 2022 that Princess Märtha Louise would relinquish her patronage role to “distinguish more clearly” between her and Mr. Verrett’s activities and the Royal House of Norway, aiming to “prevent misunderstandings regarding the Royal House.”
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| Princess Martha Louise and Shaman Durek Verrett. Shutterstock |
Who Is Durek Verrett?
Durek Verrett, a sixth-generation shaman, describes himself as a “servant of God and energy activator” who simplifies spirituality through his “no-nonsense teachings.” He has claimed to have been resurrected and shared that a relative prophesied during his childhood that he would marry the princess of Norway.
Verrett has garnered significant popularity in Hollywood, with followers like Gwyneth Paltrow and Antonio Banderas. In his book Spirit Hacking, the African-American shaman controversially wrote that cancer is a choice and suggested exercises to remove "imprints" left in women's bodies by previous sexual partners.
Verrett is also a businessman, and his engagement announcement caused some controversy as he is set to join the royal family. However, it was decided that Verrett would not receive any royal title, and their business ventures would remain separate from the royal family's activities.
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| King Harald and Queen Sonja , Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit (NTB via AP) |
Since then, the couple has faced criticism from both the palace and members of Norway's parliament for allegedly linking commercial activities to the princess's royal status. Kristi Marie Skrede, a royal correspondent for Norway's NRK TV, said that their relationship has caused conflict within the royal family and sparked public controversy.
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Many Norwegians are reportedly uncomfortable with the idea that Princess Märtha Louise uses her royal connections for financial gain, which some view as disrespectful to King Harald. In a BBC interview last year, Märtha Louise spoke about the “turmoil” surrounding her decision to pursue a different path than that of a “traditional royal,” highlighting the criticism she has faced for being spiritual, which is considered taboo in Norway.
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| Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel at wedding of Norway's Princess Martha Louise and Durek Verrett |
Despite the controversy, others admire the couple for their honesty, particularly regarding their spiritual beliefs. Princess Märtha Louise has previously claimed to be clairvoyant and, until 2018, ran a school that taught students to “create miracles” and communicate with angels. Mr. Verrett has described himself as a sixth-generation shaman and claimed to have briefly died, returning with knowledge from the other side.
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The couple’s decision to ban phones and cameras from their wedding, allegedly to honor exclusivity agreements with Hello! Magazines and Netflix, have also stirred controversy. Some guests, particularly those with large social media followings, found the restrictions disappointing. Despite these limitations, it was reported that Netflix is producing a documentary about Princess Märtha Louise and Mr. Verrett’s love story, further fueling public debate.
The documentary is said to be directed by Rebecca Chaiklin, known for her work on the hit show "Tiger King," and will feature drone footage of the wedding, though concerns have been raised that leaked photos could reduce the couple’s financial gains from their media deals.
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