The Controversy Surrounding Princess Märtha Louise's Wedding

In Norway, a royal union under scrutiny

This weekend, Princess Märtha Louise of Norway married Durek Verrett, a self-proclaimed shaman from Los Angeles, in style. And while royal weddings are typically a time for nationwide celebration, this royal union has stirred up a storm of controversy—both at home in Norway and abroad.

Debates over tradition, spirituality, and the future of Norway's royal family swirled around Märtha Louise’s nuptials, nearly eclipsing what was meant to be a celebration of love across the ages (literally).

Today, I thought we could take a fresh look at this contentious pair, from the debate over Märtha Louise's royal status to Shaman Durek’s unconventional background. Settle in, folks; this is going to be a bumpy ride.

The Princess

Princess Märtha Louise is the eldest child of King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway and is currently fourth in the line of succession. She has always been known for her free spirit and unconventional choices. A trained physiotherapist (she studied at Oslo University College), she has long embraced alternative healing methods. In 2007, she launched an alternative therapy business, commonly known in Norway as the "angel school," and has spoken openly about her personal communication with angels.

Princess Märtha Louise at her 18th birthday celebrations.

Contrary to popular belief, it was before launching this center that Märtha Louise lost her style of ‘Her Royal Highness.’ It was in 2002, at the time of her first wedding, that her father, the King, issued a royal removing the style. This was done with Märtha Louise’s input and, apparently, approval. At that time, she worked in the private sector and even paid income tax. She does retain her place in the Norwegian line of succession and her ‘Princess’ title.

However, in 2007, Märtha Louise began facing calls to cease using her ‘Princess’ in connection with her private business ventures—and in some cases, to give up her titles altogether. Some of these business ventures included publishing multiple books on angel communication.

Märtha Louise first met American spiritual guru Durek Verrett in 2018—the same year, incidentally, that her angel school closed. The union, understandably, quickly attracted attention. Verrett, a Californian spiritual guide, author, and self-proclaimed shaman, is known for his unorthodox views and controversial statements, such as claiming he can reverse aging and cure chronic diseases.

The Shaman

Verrett was born Derek David Verrett in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1974 and grew up in a lower-middle-class neighborhood. Family members describe his father as a contractor who went bankrupt twice, and his stepmother as a customer service agent for Alaska Airlines. But if you asked Durek, he would tell you he was raised by a wealthy father “with a private plane and domestic servants.” Verrett has also alternatively claimed that his birth mother was of Norwegian-West Indian, white, or Native American heritage. As for his father, sometimes he’s African and Haitian, while other times he’s Blackfoot Native American.

In 2014, Derek changed his name to Durek, and in 2021, he took to Instagram to share yet another alternative backstory:

“I am a hybrid species of space lizard and Andromedia, and I also possess ancient spirits from the old world. There have been lies told about our species that I want to address. We are a cluster of beings, and that means we have come here to create structures that help people to liberation. Space lizards are here to disrupt the system in a major way. Anything that is locked in structures that actually limit or prevent people from seeing liberation we shake. We come as disruptors to disrupt frequencies.”

Verrett is openly bisexual (which, to be clear, I do not bring up as a criticism), and his ex-fiancé, Hank Greenberg, has accused him of domestic abuse, manipulation, and cult-like behavior. His mother, who goes by the name Veruschka Urquhart, has disputed many of his claims about his background, calling him '“manipulative,” “ingratiating,” and “dangerous.”

Verrett and Hank Greenberg.

In 1991, Verrett was convicted of felony arson and trespassing and served one year in prison before being released on parole. He’s had his share of legal troubles in the years since, being arrested for trespassing, theft of services, and fare evasion, as well as being the subject of various lawsuits.

Verrett has claimed to be born from “lineages of Haitian voodoo and indigenous Norwegian medicine,” although his mother says the family strictly practiced Catholicism and Adventist Christianity. He began describing himself as a “third-generation Shaman” in 2011 but upped the ante to become a “sixth-generation Shaman” in 2020. His mother states that there is not a single shaman in Verrett’s ancestry.

He claims that his spiritual awakening occurred after a near-death experience at age 27—although the location of said experience mysteriously changed from Los Angeles to Belize in retellings along the way. Verret’s 2019 book, Spirit Hacking, promotes many pseudoscientific claims and has been boycotted by Norwegian publishers. The most outlandish among these include claims that he can “turn atoms” to reduce age, and offers to teach women exercises to “clean out” their vaginas—because casual sex attracts subterranean spirits that leave an impression on the female reproductive system.

Nevertheless, his views have attracted prestigious clients over the years, including Chris Pine, Selma Blair, Rosario Dawson, and, of course, Goop herself—Gwyneth Paltrow.

Needless to say, Märtha Louise and Verrett are, in some ways, birds of a feather. They both seem to be reacting against traditional cultural systems: in his case, a middle-class American upbringing, and in hers, a role in a constitutional monarchy. And since their relationship became public, the couple has faced a wave of scrutiny from the Norwegian media and royal watchers worldwide. While many have praised the pair for their openness and authenticity, others view their union as a potential threat to the reputation and traditions of Norway's royal family.

A Royal Match and A Clash of Cultures

The primary source of controversy stems from Verrett's spiritual practices and public persona. His teachings and claims have been criticized as pseudoscience and quackery—sparking a much broader conversation about the role of any royal family in endorsing or legitimizing fringe beliefs. Verrett’s approach to spirituality blends Native American traditions with modern self-help and has been perceived by some as cultural appropriation, adding another layer of controversy.

The pair had an intense relationship from the start, with Verrett telling media outlets that, although mutual friends first introduced the couple, they had actually met in a past life: “I have memories of us in Egypt, and she was my queen, and I was a pharaoh.” According to quotes in The Times, he has also tried to convince journalists of the existence of the Illuminati.

The couple faced further criticism over Verrett’s social media presence, where he often shares controversial opinions and practices. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he sold a medallion that he alleged could ward off the virus. (Since being banned from selling this medallion on the grounds that it violates consumer law, Verrett has pivoted to selling a charm which he claims can cure dogs of various ailments). Other sensational claims include his view that childhood cancer is caused by unhappiness. His statements, which include claims of curing diseases and promoting conspiracy theories, have not sat well with the reserved and egalitarian Norwegian public.

Many Norwegians, I think understandably, have worried about the implications of Princess Märtha Louise marrying someone whose views are seen as counter to science, conventional medicine, and even logic itself. While largely ceremonial today, the Norwegian royal family still represents the nation's values and traditions. Verrett's unconventional methods fly in the face of that status quo.

Further complicating things, the couple has also faced a disturbing wave of racist backlash. As a Black man entering a predominantly white European royal family, Verrett has been subjected to racial prejudice and hostility. Some of the criticism directed at him has gone beyond his spiritual practices and delved into discriminatory language, reflecting deeper issues of racism within Norwegian society.

Princess Märtha Louise has been outspoken about the racism her fiancé has faced, describing it as a wake-up call—she “never thought” there was racism in Norway before debuting her relationship with Verrett. She has routinely taken to social media to condemn the racist backlash, emphasizing that her relationship is based on love and mutual respect, regardless of any racial or cultural differences.

Verrett himself has also addressed the racist backlash, sharing his experiences of discrimination in interviews and social media posts. He has highlighted the challenges he faces as a Black man in Europe, particularly in the context of his impending marriage to a princess. The couple have successfully used the backlash they’ve faced to call for a broader dialogue about inclusion and acceptance, particularly from some quarters of the Norwegian public.

Norwegian cabinet minister Abid Raja accused Verrett of "playing the race card" to distract from the criticism of his conspiracy theories and "dangerous" views. Norwegian and African-American comedian Jonna Støme echoed that sentiment when he said that Verrett's claims undermine the real fight against racism, and people in Norway react negatively to Verrett simply because “he is a conman who says horrible things.”

Setting aside the potentially harmful views—for just a second—and this is alo what’s so disappointing about the pair. Tt’s clear that in both Märtha Louise and Verrett’s eyes, the criticism they face is not about his dangerous beliefs or her questionable practices; it is simply about the color of his skin—and that’s all they seem prepared to address.

The Royal Family's Response

Where their daughter’s relationship is concerned, the Norwegian royal family has generally taken a cautious approach. In a statement released when the couple’s engagement was announced, King Harald V expressed his support for his daughter while acknowledging the differences in her beliefs from the family’s. After much criticism, in 2019, the palace confirmed she would no longer use her title of Princess during business activities. In 2022, the palace further announced that Märtha Louise would no longer represent the royal family in official capacities, a decision widely viewed as a move to distance the monarchy from Verrett’s controversial persona.

That 2019 decision likely stemmed from a series of seminars titled "The Princess and the Shaman," which contained Verrett’s typical pseudo-scientific claims and Märtha Louise muddying the waters by using her title during a commercial business venture.

While the couple was given the official green light to marry, the palace stressed the importance of maintaining separation between Märtha Louise’s private life and her royal title—a delicate balancing act. The princess’s personal choices are her own, but the question remains: what is her responsibility to safeguard the royal institution's image?

Wedding Day Drama

The Norwegian press is largely opposed to the Princess and Shaman’s match, with some outlets describing their wedding as "comical" and "embarrassing." Norwegian media outlets also criticized King Harald V for “legitimizing and endorsing the exploitation of national values and symbols for Märtha Louise's and Verrett's personal financial gain.”

Adding yet another layer to the discussion, Princess Märtha Louise and Durek bypassed Norwegian media entirely in the lead-up to their nuptials, selling exclusive rights to their wedding coverage to Hello! Magazine. Understandably, this decision has drawn further sharp criticism from both the Norwegian public and the media.

This move is highly unconventional for a royal wedding—particularly in Norway, where the monarchy is viewed as a symbol of national heritage and public service, not commercial enterprise.

According to British Vogue:

Normally, the press office of a royal family will share images of a wedding to multiple news outlets at no cost, due to public interest as well as respect to the free press. However, the couple has instead decided to only give one publication an exclusive on their wedding photos: Hello! …And while Märtha is no longer a working royal, such an arrangement is almost unheard of for a family that is connected to a taxpayer-funded institution.

This has caused an uproar within the Norwegian press, which has long covered the nuptials of the royal family: “Here a key member of the Norwegian royal family is breaking what has been a long and good tradition,” Reidun Kjelling Nybø of the Norwegian Editors’ Association told NRK, the Norwegian state broadcasting company.

To avoid conflict, the Royal House of Norway’s head of communications, Guri Varpe, has said the rest of the Norwegian royal family [would] refrain from taking any exclusive wedding photos.

By selling exclusive rights to a glossy international magazine, the couple has been accused of commodifying what is traditionally considered a private, dignified event. The move to further conceal themselves and the ceremony in a plastic tent—with Märtha Louise entering the venue behind a curtain to prevent anyone but tabloid photographers from "Hello!" magazine from capturing images of her wedding dress—was also widely criticized as a display of “shame and greed.” One online user described the move as “so unworthy for a daughter of a very down-to-earth royal couple.”

The wedding day decisions undermined the decorum expected of royalty and blurred the lines between the royal family's official duties and private affairs. It also raised concerns about the influence of money and media in the royal domain, potentially setting a precedent that could affect the public's perception of the monarchy.

A devil’s advocate, however, might see this monetization as a pragmatic way to manage the intense media interest in the event. Controlling the media narrative around their own wedding, particularly after a long and contentious relationship with Norwegian media, could be the right move for Märtha Louise and Durek to protect their peace, ensuring that their story is told on their terms.

Regardless, the decision to collaborate with Hello! only adds to the complexities and dramas of an already contentious royal union, further highlighting the ongoing tensions between tradition, modernity, and the public's expectations of royalty.

Public Opinion

With the wedding ceremony over and done with, public opinion on the couple remains divided. On one side, there is a small but growing contingent of Norwegians—particularly younger generations—who support Märtha Louise's right to choose her partner and embrace her spiritual beliefs. They argue that the royal family should be allowed to reflect diverse perspectives in a modern, inclusive society.

On the other hand, a significant portion of the population believes that Märtha Louise’s marriage to Verrett undermines the monarchy's credibility. For many, the royal family symbolizes national unity and tradition, and aligning with Verrett in any capacity is seen as diluting these values. Concerns have also been raised about how this marriage might affect the royal family's future, particularly in light of Märtha Louise’s still-prominent position within the line of succession.

A Modern Royal Dilemma

This controversy brings into sharp focus the evolving role of modern monarchies in a world that increasingly values diversity, inclusivity, and personal freedom. Should the royals be held to traditional standards, or is there room for them to reflect broader societal changes? The wedding of Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett is, in some ways, a test case for these questions.

For Märtha Louise and Verrett, this weekend was more than a wedding—it was a declaration of their right to love, despite the controversy it brings. The pair have continually operated under the assertion that their love has “triumphed against all odds,” hammering home the idea that the world has unjustly treated them rather than reasonably reacted to their literal words and actions.

In her wedding vows, Märtha Louise tearfully told Verrett: “I promise I will walk with you to the best of my ability because we are always changed although we are always the same. Because we are always the past, the present and the future in one.”

And speaking to Hello! Magazine after the ceremony, Verrett said: “I never thought I’d find a woman who’d be able to love all of me. But I always dreamed of a woman like that and I found her. I’m the happiest man because I get to spend the rest of my life with her. I can’t wait to see her and share things with her.”

Verrett will not receive a royal title from this marriage and has never sought permanent residency or citizenship in Norway. He retains his American citizenship and Los Angeles address.

Now, the only question left to answer is: what does the future hold for Princess Märtha Louise and Shaman Durek's union, given the controversies and unconventional aspects surrounding their union?