Princess Märtha Louise of Norway leaves royal duties and keeps title after marriage to shaman

Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, firstborn of the late King Harald V, occupies a unique position in the monarchy. Despite being older than her brother, Haakon VIII, it was he who ascended the throne of the Nordic nation, a fact shaped by ancient laws of succession and the princess’s personal choices, which removed her from royal duties.

Recently, following the passing of King Harald V, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre declared that the country was “united in mourning and gratitude” as the new monarch took charge of the monarchy.

The newly crowned King Haakon announced that his royal motto would be the same as that of his predecessors: “Everything for Norway”.

In contrast, the trajectory of her older sister, Märtha Louise, has been marked by decisions that distanced her from a central role in royalty.

In 2022, she chose to renounce her royal responsibilities to dedicate herself to her career in the field of alternative medicine, an activity she pursues alongside her husband, Durek Verrett, a self-proclaimed shaman with controversial opinions.

Although she continues to bear her title of princess, she has stepped away from official duties with the aim of “creating a clearer dividing line” between her public duties and her private life.

Verrett has been the target of controversy for promoting practices without scientific basis, including the controversial statement that cancer is a personal choice.

However, Märtha Louise’s position in the royal family was already defined by the line of succession long before her formal resignation.

When the princess was born in 1971, Norway still adopted male preference in the line of succession, giving the first-born male priority over his sisters, even if they were older.

The Norwegian Constitution was revised in 1990, recognizing women’s right to inherit the throne, a historic change for the monarchy.

This constitutional reform, however, was not applied retroactively, ensuring that his brother, Haakon, remained the direct heir to the throne.

Thanks to this same reform, Haakon’s daughter, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, is now part of the line of succession and has the possibility of becoming the first woman to head the Norwegian state since the 15th century.

Controversies and accusations that marked the princess’s career

Princess Märtha Louise, 54, has been a figure of controversy in Norway for promoting alternative treatments for decades.

Among her initiatives, she founded a school with the purpose of helping people “connect with their angels”, generating public debate.

The princess also faced accusations of allegedly using her royal title to gain advantage in her private activities.

In 2002, she married Norwegian writer and artist Ari Behn, with whom she had three daughters.

The couple divorced in 2017 and, in a tragic outcome, Behn, who was struggling with depression, committed suicide on Christmas 2019.

In an interview given in 2013 to the Spanish newspaper ABC, the princess claimed to be “clairvoyant”, causing repercussions.

On that occasion, she clarified her perception: “I can’t see the future, but I can perceive people’s energy”, explaining the nature of her clairvoyance.

She also stated that she went from an “insecure girl with stage fright to a confident woman” throughout her life.

“This change happened when I met my guardian angel, who I talk to daily,” she revealed to ABC.

In June 2022, Princess Märtha Louise announced her engagement to Verrett, after having made their relationship public in an Instagram post in 2019, already anticipating possible criticism.

In that post, she addressed potential critics: “To those who feel the need to criticize: please refrain. It is not for you to choose for me or judge me. Durek is simply a man I love spending time with and who completes me.”

Despite their appeal, the couple faced severe criticism in Norway, and Verrett was repeatedly described as a “charlatan”, impostor and conspiracy theorist by public figures.

Former Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg called Verrett’s ideas “very strange” and “baseless”, adding that they promoted conspiracy theories.

Durek Verrett, the shaman who compares himself to genies and generates controversy

Durek Verrett, an African-American self-proclaimed “sixth-generation shaman”, gained attention for claims that he was resurrected and predicted the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States two years in advance.

He attributes the criticism he receives to the color of his skin, stating that he has “never suffered so much racism” as in his experience in Norway.

Verrett also compared himself to personalities such as Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison, describing them as “geniuses” and “misunderstood”, just like himself.

On his website, the shaman presents himself as a “‘Age of Now’ visionary” who seeks to “demystify spirituality” in his work.

He claims that his work has influenced renowned actresses such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Nina Dobrev, increasing their visibility.

A survey released in September 2022 revealed that only 13% of Norwegians considered Princess Märtha Louise fit to represent the royal family at official events, reflecting the impact of her choices and controversies on public perception.