Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, the eldest child of the Norwegian King, married American self-proclaimed shaman Durek Verrett in a spectacular wedding ceremony on Saturday, attended by a host of celebrities, social media influencers, reality stars, and TV personalities. The event followed three days of festivities and took place in the picturesque town of Geiranger, a famous tourist destination in Norway known for its stunning fjord views.
Märtha Louise, 52, and Verrett, who claims to be a sixth-generation shaman from California, exchanged vows in a large white tent set up on a lush lawn in Geiranger. Guests reported that both Norwegian and American artists performed at the ceremony, including a gospel choir and a singer representing Norway’s indigenous Sámi community. Norwegian TV personality Harald Rønneberg described the vibrant event as “Hollywood meets Geiranger,” telling NRK, “It was filled with gospel, love, laughter, and applause. It was absolutely beautiful.”
The couple sold exclusive photo rights to the British celebrity magazine and film rights to Netflix, a move that sparked protests from Norwegian media, which criticized the commercialization of the royal wedding, claiming it deviates from local customs. Both Märtha Louise and Verrett have often criticized the press while promoting themselves on social media.
King Harald, 87, who has experienced fragile health in recent years, attended his daughter’s wedding along with Queen Sonja and other members of the Norwegian royal family. The Swedish royal family was represented by Crown Princess Victoria and her husband, Prince Daniel, along with Prince Carl Philip and his wife, Princess Sofia. However, no other European royals were in attendance. The wedding occurred amid ongoing criticism of the couple’s actions and declining support for the Norwegian monarchy, which has been troubled by reports involving an unruly family member facing preliminary domestic violence charges.
Märtha Louise and Verrett, 49, have garnered attention for their unconventional beliefs. While the princess, who is fourth in line to the Norwegian throne, announced in 2022 that she would no longer officially represent the Norwegian royal house, she has retained her royal title. Märtha Louise has claimed to communicate with angels, while Verrett says he interacts with various spirits and possesses a medallion that wards off spells and cures diseases.
The couple, who became engaged in 2022, agreed in a 2019 arrangement not to use Märtha Louise’s royal connections or title for commercial gain. Despite this, earlier this year, Märtha Louise labeled bottles of gin with her royal title and launched the brand in time for the wedding, defying King Harald’s directive. The label was eventually changed after criticism.
Märtha Louise has three children from her previous marriage to author and playwright Ari Behn, whom she divorced in 2017 after 14 years of marriage. Following the wedding, Verrett will not hold a royal title or undertake any official duties.
