Norway's Princess Martha Louise Announces Wedding Date with Shaman

Norway's Princess Martha Louise and her American partner, self-proclaimed shaman Durek Verrett, have announced that they will be getting married next summer. King Harald V congratulated the couple and expressed his happiness in welcoming Verrett to the family. Last year, Princess Martha Louise stepped down from her royal duties to focus on her alternative medicine business with her fiancé. Verrett is known for promoting unproven medical practices, including suggesting that cancer is a choice and selling medallions online that supposedly ward off Covid-19. The princess has also claimed to have the ability to communicate with angels. The engagement was announced in June 2022 and received the king's blessing. In a statement released on Wednesday, Norway's king and queen expressed their excitement in having Verrett join the family and wished the couple all the best. The wedding will take place in Geiranger, a picturesque town in Norway situated on the shores of a UNESCO World Heritage Site fjord. The couple expressed their joy in celebrating their love in Geiranger's beautiful surroundings, which hold significant historical and natural value. According to Norway's state broadcaster NRK, Verrett will move to Norway and become part of the royal family without holding a title. Verrett, who describes himself as a "6th Generation Shaman," has made controversial claims, such as rising from the dead and predicting the 9/11 attacks before they occurred. He has faced criticism for his beliefs, which he believes is rooted in racism. Princess Martha Louise has been involved in alternative treatments for many years and has sparked controversy in Norway. She even started a school aimed at helping people connect with their angels. While she acknowledges the importance of research-based knowledge, she believes that alternative medicine can be a valuable supplement alongside conventional medical practices. The princess, who is King Harald's eldest child, had previously been accused of using her royal title for personal gain. In November, a palace statement announced that she had relinquished her "patronage role" to distinguish her activities from the Royal House of Norway. Although she will retain her title, she has agreed not to use it for her commercial endeavors. Princess Martha Louise was previously married to author Ari Behn, with whom she divorced in 2017. Tragically, Mr. Behn died by suicide on Christmas Day 2019. Her younger brother, Crown Prince Haakon, is set to succeed their father as king.