King Harald V of Norway has announced that his eldest child, Princess Martha Louise, is set to marry her Hollywood partner, Durek Verrett, a self-proclaimed shaman from California, next summer. The royal couple will tie the knot on August 24 in Geiranger, a picturesque village known for its breathtaking Norwegian scenery amidst mountains and fjords. The wedding will be privately paid for, and Mr. Verrett, who will join the royal family, will not be granted a title.
The couple’s unconventional beliefs have generated quite a stir in Norway, where they have toured as “The Princess and The Shaman.” Princess Martha Louise, 51, claims she can communicate with angels, while Mr. Verrett, 48, asserts that he converses with a wide range of spirits, possesses ancient medical knowledge, and wears a medallion to ward off negative energies and darkness. Their unorthodox views have raised eyebrows, particularly among the traditional Norwegians.
Princess Martha Louise is a descendant of Queen Victoria of Britain, and her ancestry is deeply rooted in the royal family. However, her younger brother, Crown Prince Haakon, will succeed their father as king, as the Norwegian Constitution was altered in 1990 to grant equal precedence to the first child, regardless of gender, in the line of succession. Haakon’s oldest child, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, will one day ascend the Norwegian throne.
King Harald V of Norway (Via King Harald V/Twitter)
The royal family is “delighted to welcome” Mr. Verrett, who comes from a long line of shamans, with his claims of being a sixth-generation practitioner. While some Norwegians may view his unconventional practices with skepticism, the couple is undeterred, describing their chosen location as the “perfect place to embrace our love.” Geiranger, 265 kilometers north of Bergen, Norway’s second-largest city, is indeed a stunning backdrop for their ceremony.
The couple’s wedding will likely attract significant media attention, given the royal family’s prominence and the unorthodox nature of their beliefs. As they prepare to exchange vows in the picturesque Norwegian fjords, Princess Martha Louise and Mr. Verrett will undoubtedly face scrutiny and curiosity from around the world. Nevertheless, they seem undaunted, looking forward to celebrating their love in the beautiful surroundings of Geiranger, where their paths will forever be entwined.
