The oldest child of the Norwegian king, Princess Märtha Louise, is set to marry American self-proclaimed shaman Durek Verret in southern Norway on Saturday. The couple’s upcoming wedding has attracted criticism amid a decline in support for the Scandinavian royals, partly due to negative reports about a family member facing preliminary domestic violence charges.
Princess Märtha Louise, 52, who is fourth in line to the Norwegian throne, announced in 2022 that she would no longer officially represent the Norwegian royal house to be closer to her American fiancé. Verret, 49, claims to be a sixth-generation shaman from California and has drawn attention for his beliefs in communicating with spirits and possessing a medallion with healing properties.
Despite their marriage, Verret will not receive any royal titles or official duties. The couple previously agreed not to exploit Märtha Louise’s royal connection for commercial purposes, but recent incidents like labeling gin bottles with her title for a product launch before the wedding have sparked controversy.
The negative publicity for the royal family intensified with the actions of Marius Borg Høiby, the stepson of Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who confessed to causing bodily harm and damage while under the influence of drugs. The series of scandals has significantly weakened public support for the monarchy, prompting debates about the future of the institution.
A Norwegian political party advocating for the abolition of the monarchy plans to propose a constitutional amendment following the recent controversies. However, it is unlikely to garner widespread support from other lawmakers. The royal wedding is scheduled to take place in Geiranger, Norway, with limited information about the guest list, although it is expected that members of the Norwegian royal family, as well as Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria and her husband Prince Daniel, will attend.
Reality stars, media influencers, and TV personalities are also expected to be present at the event in Geiranger, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its picturesque fjords. Princess Märtha Louise, who has three children from her previous marriage, will marry Verret as her younger brother stands to succeed their father, King Harald, following changes to the Norwegian Constitution in 1990 allowing gender-neutral succession.
