Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and American self-styled shaman Durek Verrett have begun their wedding celebrations after years of public scrutiny and controversy.
The celebrations started on Thursday with a “meet and greet” at a historic hotel in Ålesund, Norway. The next day, guests took a boat to Geiranger, a picturesque town on the shores of a UNESCO World Heritage fjord, for a scenic lunch before the private wedding ceremony on Saturday.
The guest list includes members of the Swedish royal family, social media influencers, and TV personalities such as Cynthia Bailey, a US reality star. According to Norwegian media, guests have been instructed not to use mobile phones or cameras during the event, as well as to refrain from posting on social media.
Princess Märtha Louise, 52, and Verrett, 49, have announced their engagement for 2022. The princess, King Harald V’s eldest child, was previously married to writer and artist Ari Behn, with whom she has three daughters. The couple divorced in 2017, and Behn died in December 2019.
Märtha Louise has faced significant criticism in Norway for her involvement in alternative therapies and spiritual practices. She relinquished her title of “Her Royal Highness” in 2002 to start a business and ran a clairvoyance school until 2018.
Verrett, who calls himself a sixth-generation shaman, has made headlines for his claims of spiritual abilities and past experiences. He has sparked both interest and criticism in Norway, where some residents are wary of his unconventional practices.
Despite the controversy, Parish Priest Margit Lovise Holte will officiate the wedding ceremony, which will adhere to traditional Norwegian Church customs. The couple has taken steps to distance themselves from the royal family’s official responsibilities; Märtha Louise has given up her patronage roles and will not use her royal title for commercial purposes.
The wedding has also been the focus of criticism over media coverage. Instead of allowing Norwegian media to cover the event, the couple has agreed to exclusive coverage deals with international media outlets such as Hello! magazine and Netflix. This decision has sparked discontent among local journalists and the general public, who feel excluded from the festivities.
According to Norwegian media, the couple recently bought a house in Norway, and Verrett will join the royal family without an official title. The royal household has confirmed that King Harald, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon, and Crown Princess Mette-Marit will attend the wedding, along with Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Prince Daniel.
BBC and the Associated Press contributed to the report.
