Norwegian Princess Märtha Louise marries self-proclaimed “shaman”, American Durek Verrett, on Saturday, August 31. A colorful union that makes the kingdom cough.
The eldest daughter of the Norwegian royal couple, 52-year-old Princess Märtha Louise, will marry American Durek Verrett on Saturday, August 31. Between the latter, 52, who claims to have “clairvoyance” that allows her to communicate with angels, and her husband-to-be, 49, who wants to be a “sixth-generation shaman”, this union is sparking talk in Norway, and this promises to be just the beginning.
The approximately 350 guests, including Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria and her husband Prince Daniel, kicked off the festivities with a welcome evening on Thursday. Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett will now marry in the enchanting setting of a hotel on the heights of Geiranger, a tourist village, this Saturday afternoon.
A wedding? More like a remarriage, according to Durek Verrett. The spirit guide claims that he was a pharaoh and had Märtha Louise as his wife in a previous life. This eccentricity runs amok in the Scandinavian country, as does the couple's penchant for making money by mishandling science and abusing royalty for commercial purposes.
Between spirituality and fraud
In 2022, the princess, fourth in line to the throne, stepped down from all official positions. But she has since come under fire, most notably at her wedding where she sold a bottle of gin referring to her princess status. Therefore, some voices are raised to remove her princess status.
The couple's escapades contribute to the erosion of the royal family's popularity, which nevertheless remains high. Support for the monarchy has fallen to 68% in Norway, according to a recent poll. In particular, the “shaman Durek” is the focus of criticism, including quack trials. He trades for a medallion, “Spirit Optimizer”, supposed to be a savior which he sells at a high price (222 euros!) because he assures that it saved him from Covid. In one of his works, he suggests that cancer is a choice and recommends exercises to erase the vaginal “print” of women who have had multiple sexual partners. Although he says he understands that his positions can be confusing, this African-American considers himself a victim of racism. People “don't want a black man in the royal family,” he said to explain the pushback he's getting.