Guests included social media influencers, reality stars and TV personalities, as the Norwegian king’s eldest child. Princess Martha LouiseAn American married a self-professed shaman in a wedding ceremony on Saturday after three days of festivities.
Martha Louise, 52, and Durek Verret, who claims to be a sixth-generation shaman from California, tied the knot in the picturesque small town of Geiranger, one of Norway’s top tourist attractions, set on a fjord with stunning views.
After the festivities that started on Thursday, the actual wedding ceremony took place in a big white tent set up on a green lawn. Guests told media outlets that Norwegian and US artists performed at the event, along with a gospel singer and a singer representing Norway’s indigenous Sami people.
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Norwegian TV personality Harald Ronneberg described the colorful event to public broadcaster NRK, “It was great! Hollywood meets Geiranger” “It was gospel and love. We laughed, we clapped and we were touched. It was absolutely beautiful.”
The couple sold the wedding photo rights to British celebrity magazine Hello! and Netflix’s film rights. The agreements prompted protests from Norwegian media, which said the arrangement went against local practice. The couple has often railed against the press while promoting themselves on social media.
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87-year-old King Harald, who has been in frail health for the past few years, was joined by Queen Sonja and other members of the Norwegian royal family at his daughter’s wedding. Crown Princess Victoria and her husband Prince Daniel represented the Swedish royal house along with her brother Prince Carl Philip and his wife Princess Sofia. No other European royals attended the wedding.
The wedding comes amid widespread criticism of the couple’s actions and declining support from members of the Norwegian royal family, who have been dogged by negative reports about a recalcitrant family member facing initial domestic violence allegations.
Martha Lewis and Verrett, 49, have attracted headlines with their alternative beliefs. Although he is fourth in line to the Norwegian throne, he said in 2022 that he would no longer officially represent the Norwegian royal house.
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The princess – she retains the title – says she can talk to angels, while Veret claims she communicates with a wide range of spirits and has a medallion that helps stop spells and cure diseases.
They were appointed in 2022. After their marriage, Veret will have no royal title or official duties.
In a 2019 agreement, Martha Lewis and Verrett agreed not to use her title for commercial purposes or her connection to the royal household.
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But earlier this year Martha Louise labeled a bottle of gin with her title and launched the brand for the wedding in defiance of King Harald’s directive that she should not profit from her royal status. The label was eventually changed.
Martha Lewis has three children from her previous marriage to writer and playwright Ari Benn, whom she divorced in 2017 after 14 years of marriage.
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