Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, the eldest child of King Harald, married Durek Verrett, a self-proclaimed shaman from California, in a lavish ceremony on Saturday. The wedding took place in the scenic town of Geiranger, a popular tourist destination known for its breathtaking fjord views.
The couple’s nuptials culminated three days of festivities that began on Thursday. The ceremony was held in a large white tent on a lush lawn, where guests, including social media influencers and TV personalities, were treated to performances by Norwegian and American artists, a gospel choir, and a singer representing the Sámi people.
“It was a beautiful blend of Hollywood glamour and Norwegian tradition,” said Norwegian TV personality Harald Rønneberg, describing the event to public broadcaster NRK.
The couple sold exclusive rights to their wedding photos to British celebrity magazine Hello! and film rights to Netflix, a decision that sparked criticism from Norwegian media, who argued the move was against local customs.
Despite the controversy, the 87-year-old King Harald, who has faced health challenges in recent years, attended the wedding along with Queen Sonja and other members of the Norwegian royal family.
Crown Princess Victoria, her husband Prince Daniel, and her brother Prince Carl Philip with his wife Princess Sofia represented the Swedish royal family. No other European royals were in attendance.
Princess Märtha Louise, 52, and Verrett, 49, have frequently made headlines for their unconventional beliefs. The princess, fourth in line to the Norwegian throne, announced in 2022 that she would no longer officially represent the royal house. She has claimed the ability to communicate with angels, while Verrett asserts that he interacts with spirits and possesses a medallion with healing powers.
The couple, who got engaged in 2022, agreed in a 2019 arrangement not to use Märtha Louise’s royal connections for commercial gain.
However, earlier this year, the princess sparked controversy by labelling gin bottles with her royal title, defying King Harald’s directive. The labels were eventually changed.
Märtha Louise has three children from her previous marriage to author Ari Behn, whom she divorced in 2017 after 14 years of marriage.
Following her marriage to Verrett, he will not receive a royal title or assume official duties.
The wedding has also taken place against a backdrop of waning support for the Norwegian royal family, which has been dealing with negative publicity surrounding an unruly family member facing domestic violence charges.
