Princess Martha Louise of Norway and Shaman Durek Verrett Prepare for Wedding
Norwegian Princess Märtha Louise and her fiancé, self-proclaimed shaman Durek Verrett, will be married on August 31. Ahead of the big day, the couple took part in a photo shoot for Hello! and shared details of their love story.
The 52-year-old daughter of King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway will hold a wedding ceremony with her 49-year-old Californian lover in the resort town of Geiranger on the shores of the fjord of the same name. The couple announced this a year ago. The engagement took place in the summer of 2022.
The newlyweds told the publication that a large-scale three-day celebration will begin on Saturday. 350 guests, as well as members of the royal family, will gather on the west coast of Norway. "We are very happy. I feel amazing marrying Durek, and I am so glad that the day is almost here. It is very beautiful there - it is one of the most beautiful places I know. Even if there are any problems, we will still be able to admire the stunning scenery," Marta shared.
After her divorce from writer Ari Behn in 2017, Martha Louise decided that she would never marry again. However, meeting Durek in 2018 changed her mind. "For me, marriage will cement the closeness between us. It's a way to raise the energy and enter a new phase of our relationship." Let's remember that Martha Louise gave up her royal title for the sake of her marriage to Verrett. After the wedding, the famous Hollywood shaman will become a member of the royal family, but will not be awarded a title.
Verrett noted that marriage is very important to him. "It's an admission to the world, to my family, to my friends, to God, that I love this person. To document our relationship to the universe is a powerful spiritual statement, and to do it surrounded by people who love us and whom we love will be wonderful."
The lovers' path to marriage was not easy. Since their affair became known in 2019, the relationship of the heir to the Norwegian throne with the shaman has been actively discussed in the press due to his occupation. Verrett has been interested in healing for many years and holds spiritualistic sessions. He is engaged in medical practice, which is not supported by special education or qualifications, which is why he is often criticized. For example, the princess's fiancé believes that cancer is a choice of the people themselves, and chemotherapy is prescribed to patients for the sake of doctors' earnings, and that casual sex attracts some underground spirits that leave an "imprint" inside a woman. During the pandemic, Verrett was engaged in the online sale of amulets that supposedly protect against covid. Despite all this, Durek enjoys the support of world celebrities: for example, Gwyneth Paltrow called him her spiritual mentor. 
"I know what it's like to face public criticism," Marta says. "Since I met Durek, that criticism has doubled. Before I met him, I had no idea there were so many layers of racism, microaggressions, and the idea that because he's black, he can't be trusted. Some friendships have been lost, but we've also made new ones."
Verrett adds that the hardships they've endured over the years have only made them stronger together, despite those who thought they'd break up. "It was painful at first. I had breakdown after breakdown. It feels like propaganda is the biggest weapon right now. My work can be misrepresented, and if it's repeated in the press, people believe it. Martha and I have weathered a lot of storms, but now we feel like we can do anything together - it's made us stronger."
Märtha Louise's first marriage to writer Ari Behn lasted 14 years. The couple had three daughters: Maud Angelique, Leah Isadora, and Emma Tallulah. The couple's divorce was the first in the history of the modern Norwegian royal family. On Christmas Eve in 2019, Ari Behn committed suicide.
