Social media influencers, reality stars and TV personalities were among the guests as the Norwegian king’s eldest child, Princess Martha Louise, married a self-professed US shaman on Saturday in a wedding ceremony following three days of festivities.
The 52-year-old Martha Louise and Durek Verrett, who claims to be a sixth-generation shaman from California, tied the knot in the picturesque small town of Geiranger, one of Norway’s major tourist attractions located on a fjord with stunning views.
Following festivities that started on Thursday, the actual wedding ceremony took place in a large white tent set up on a lush lawn. Guests told media that Norwegian and US artists performed at the event along with a gospel choir and a singer representing Norway’s indigenous Sami.
Photo: NTB via AFP
“It was fantastic! It was Hollywood meets Geiranger,” Norwegian TV personality Harald Ronneberg described the colorful ceremony to public broadcaster NRK. “It was gospel and love. We laughed, we clapped, and we were touched. It was absolutely beautiful.”
The couple has sold the wedding photo rights to British celebrity magazine Hello! and the film rights to Netflix. The deals prompted protests from Norwegian media, which said the arrangement goes against local practices.
The couple have often lashed out against the press while promoting themselves on social media.
The 87-year-old Norwegian King Harald, who has been in fragile health the past few years, attended his daughter’s wedding together with Queen Sonja and other members of the royal house. Swedish Crown Princess Victoria and her husband, Prince Daniel, represented the Swedish royal house together with her brother, Prince Carl Philip, and his wife, Princess Sofia. No other European royals attended the wedding.
The wedding comes amid widespread criticism of the couple’s actions and waning support for the Norwegian royals, who have also been plagued by negative reports about an unruly family member who faces preliminary domestic violence charges.
Martha Louise and Verrett, 49, have attracted headlines with their alternative beliefs. She is fourth in line to the Norwegian throne, but said in 2022 that she would no longer officially represent the Norwegian royal house.
The princess — she has retained the title — has said she can talk with angels, while Verrett claims that he communicates with a broad range of spirits and has a medallion which helps ward off spells and can cure diseases.
They became engaged in 2022. Following their marriage, Verrett would not have a royal title or official duties.
In a 2019 deal, Martha Louise and Verrett agreed not to use her connection to the royal house or her title for commercial purposes.
However, earlier this year Martha Louise labeled bottles of gin with her title and launched the brand in time for the wedding, defying King Harald’s directive that she should not profit from her royal status. The label was eventually changed.
Martha Louise has three children from her previous marriage with author and playwright Ari Behn, whom she divorced in 2017 after 14 years of marriage.
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