Norwegian princess marries self-styled Californian shaman

The couple, who both claim to have mystic powers, tied the knot during a private ceremony with 350 guests in Western Norway

Princess Märtha Louise of Norway proclaimed “our love has triumphed against all odds” after she married self-styled Californian shaman Durek Verrett on Saturday.
The couple tied the knot during a private ceremony in Geiranger, Western Norway.
Social media influencers and TV personalities were among the 350 guests invited to watch the princess marry Mr Verrett, who claims to be a sixth-generation shaman.
While Mr Verrett has referred to wellness guru Gwyneth Paltrow as his “soul sister”, it was not clear whether she attended the event.
Wearing a bespoke wedding dress and King Olav’s Gift Tiara, which she received on her 18th birthday, Märtha Louise, 52, said: “Our love has triumphed against all odds and will last forever”.
Speaking to Hello! Magazine, which with Netflix has the exclusive rights to the wedding, Mr Verrett added: “Love transcends all things because love is the original energy that we all are on this planet. It triumphs everything.”
Mr Durek, 49, the first black man to marry into a modern European royal family, wore a black tuxedo embroidered with the couple’s monograms, with a gold cummerbund and tie knot.
King Harald, 87, who has been in fragile health the past few years, attended his daughter’s wedding, together with Queen Sonja and other members of the Norwegian royal house.
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.
Princess Märtha Louise’s three daughters from her first marriage, to the late Norwegian writer Ari Behn, were also at the ceremony.
The couple – who both claim to have mystic powers and believe they met in Ancient Egypt in a past life – have divided Norway and Mr Verrett will not become a prince following the wedding.
Guests said Norwegian and US artists performed at the event, along with a gospel choir and a singer representing Norway’s indigenous Sámi people.
Märtha Louise and Mr Verrett announced their relationship in 2019 and shared details of their engagement in June 2022.
That year, the Norwegian palace announced that Märtha Louise would “relinquish her patronage role” as she and Mr Verrett sought to “distinguish more clearly between their activities and the Royal House of Norway” and to “prevent misunderstandings regarding the Royal House”.