Norwegian princess to wed shaman amid public controversy

Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and Durek Verrett are getting married. The celebrations are already underway, and the couple will say "I do" in a fairytale setting. However, the Norwegian king's beloved daughter has a partner who evokes quite extreme emotions.

Although the British royals dominate global media, they are not the only monarchy in Europe. A lot has happened recently in Norway, all because of the relationship between Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett, a "spiritual guide" working in Los Angeles. They got engaged in 2022, and last year there was talk that the couple was preparing for a wedding.

This has indeed happened, and on August 31, the eldest daughter of the King of Norway and a self-proclaimed shaman from California will say "I do." The young couple has ensured that this major moment in their lives will not go unnoticed, as the celebrations have already been going on for two days, and the term "royal wedding" is not used in vain here. The ceremony will be like a fairytale, with grandeur and a crowd of famous guests.

The couple will say "I do" in the picturesque village of Geiranger in western Norway, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the natural surroundings will favour them, not all their compatriots seem to agree. The princess's chosen one is quite a controversial figure. On his website, he describes himself as a "sixth-generation shaman."

Media reported that the princess's beloved also considers himself a reincarnation of a pharaoh and claims to have healing powers. Not only has he spread pseudoscientific theories about treating COVID-19, but he has also claimed that chemotherapy for children with cancer is ineffective and is only administered because doctors profit from it. He also assured that he was resurrected at the age of 27 and predicted the attack on the World Trade Center.

Many have publicly criticized his views, calling him not a "shaman" but a mere charlatan. Among the supporters of Durek's spiritual practices were Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Pine. In Norway, the man's controversial claims have become the subject of lively debate, but the bride-to-be does not seem bothered by this.

It is unclear whether the newlyweds will live in Norway after the wedding or choose California, but this detail does not seem to be the one causing the most emotions here. For the daughter of King Harald V and Queen Sonja, this will be her second marriage, and she is also raising three daughters from her marriage to the deceased Ari Behn.