Norway’s Princess Martha Louise to wed U.S. shaman amid years of controversy
The wedding comes amid widespread criticism of the couple’s actions and waning support for the Scandinavian royals, who have been plagued by negative reports about an unruly family member who faces preliminary domestic violence charges.
Princess Märtha Louise, the eldest child of the Norwegian king, is set to marry American self-proclaimed shaman Durek Verret this Saturday in a scenic location in southern Norway.
The upcoming wedding occurs amidst significant criticism of the couple's actions and diminishing support for the Scandinavian royals, who have faced negative reports about a family member dealing with preliminary domestic violence charges.
At 52, Märtha Louise, who remains fourth in line to the Norwegian throne, and 49-year-old Verret, a self-identified sixth-generation shaman from California, have drawn attention with their unconventional beliefs. In 2022, Märtha Louise announced that she would no longer officially represent the Norwegian royal house to focus more on her American fiancé.
The princess, who retains her title, claims to communicate with angels, while Verret asserts that he interacts with various spirits and possesses a medallion that protects against spells and heals diseases.
The couple became engaged in 2022. After their marriage, Verret will not receive any royal titles or undertake official duties.
In a 2019 agreement, Märtha Louise and Verret promised not to use her royal connections or title for commercial gain. However, earlier this year, Märtha Louise defied King Harald V’s directive by launching a gin brand with her title on the bottles, though the label was later altered.
Additionally, the couple sold their wedding photo rights to a British celebrity magazine and the film rights to Netflix, drawing criticism from Norwegian media for contradicting local practices. They have frequently criticized the press while promoting themselves on social media.
Meanwhile, Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, is under suspicion for bodily harm and criminal damage. He admitted to being intoxicated and using cocaine during his brief arrest on August 6 in Oslo. Borg Høiby, who has no royal titles or duties, is not expected to attend the wedding.
Haakon has described the situation as “a serious matter.”
The scandals surrounding the royal family, along with the upcoming wedding, have significantly diminished support for the Norwegian monarchy. King Harald has not publicly addressed the issues.
A Norwegian political party known for its anti-royalist stance is using these recent controversies to push for a constitutional change to abolish the monarchy.
“These cases highlight some fundamental challenges with the monarchy,” said Andreas Sjalg Unneland, a member of the Socialist Left Party, referring to both the royal wedding and the Borg Høiby case. “Do we wait for a scandal so severe that it leads to the abolition of the monarchy, or can we end it gracefully?” Unneland suggested a national referendum on the matter.
The proposal, set to be introduced next month, is unlikely to gain significant support from other lawmakers.
The wedding on Saturday will follow the Norwegian Church's wedding liturgy. Although the event is considered private and the guest list remains undisclosed, the royal household in Oslo has confirmed that King Harald, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon, and Crown Princess Mette-Marit will be present, along with their children. Borg Høiby will not attend.
Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel are expected to attend, while Denmark’s King Frederik and Queen Mary will not.
Guests will also include reality stars, media influencers, and TV personalities in the picturesque town of Geiranger, located on the shores of its UNESCO World Heritage-listed fjord.
The Norwegian royal yacht, Norge, has been anchored in Geiranger, where it will serve as the accommodation for the king and queen.
Märtha Louise has three children from her previous marriage to Ari Behn, whom she divorced in 2017 after 14 years. Despite being the firstborn child of the 87-year-old King Harald, her younger brother Haakon will succeed their father as king. The Norwegian Constitution was amended in 1990 to allow the firstborn, regardless of gender, to be first in line for the throne, but this change does not apply retroactively. Haakon remains the first in line, and his eldest child, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, is expected to one day ascend the Norwegian throne.
