Princess Martha Louise of Norway to Marry Self-Proclaimed Shaman in Private Ceremony

This weekend, Princess Martha Louise of Norway will marry Durek Verrett, a self-proclaimed shaman and Hollywood spiritual guru, in a private ceremony set against breathtaking backdrop of Geiranger, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its stunning fjords.

celebrations have alrey commenced with a "meet and greet" at a historic hotel in Alesund. event has attracted an eclectic mix of guests, including members of Swedish royal family and American TV personalities. wedding itinerary features a scenic boat trip along fjord to Geiranger, where couple will exchange ir vows.

Princess Martha Louise, 52, is eldest daughter of King Harald V of Norway and has a background as a competitive equestrian. Her fiancé, Durek Verrett, 49, is known for his unconventional spiritual practices and claims, including his assertion of having "risen from de." 

In a 2020 Vanity Fair interview, Verrett recounted a near-death experience at age 28, during which he suffered seizures, organ failure, and flatlined for four minutes. He described experience as feeling "flaming knives" and hearing his grandmor’s spirit urging him to let go. Verrett claimed that his mind transported him back to his "mor's womb," where he relived every moment of his life and re-met every person he h ever known. After being resuscitated, he spent two months in a coma and eight years on dialysis before receiving a kidney donation from his sister in 2012. Verrett believes his recovery was due to thinking with his "expansive soul" rar than his “limiting brain.”

Verrett’s spiritual practices and claims, including controversial beliefs about cancer and his sale of $222 medallions purported to help overcome COVID-19, have sparked significant controversy in Norway, a nation with tritionally conservative royal norms. Norwegian columnist Dagfinn Nordbo has labeled him a “charlatan, a quack.”

Despite criticism, Princess Martha Louise, who is fourth in line to Norwegian throne, has publicly supported her fiancé. In a 2019 Instagram post, she defended her choice, urging critics to "refrain from judgment" and emphasizing that Verrett was “a man I love spending my time with.”

princess, who is also a clairvoyant and has written books and conducted courses on holistic healing, has been criticized for profiting from her beliefs. She announced her engagement to Verrett in June 2022 and stepped down from her royal duties in November 2022 to focus on holistic healing and spirituality with him. Though she retains her title, she has agreed not to use it for commercial purposes.

Martha Louise was previously married to writer Ari Behn, who committed suicide and passed away in 2019, three years after ir divorce.