A Norwegian princess marries an American self-styled shaman in front of a star-studded audience

HELSINKI (AP) — Social media influencers, reality stars and TV personalities were among nan guests arsenic nan Norwegian king’s eldest child, Princess Märtha Louise, joined an American self-professed shaman connected Saturday successful a wedding ceremonial pursuing 3 days of festivities.

The 52-year-old Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett, who claims to beryllium a sixth-generation shaman from California, tied nan knot successful nan picturesque mini municipality of Geiranger, 1 of Norway’s awesome tourer attractions located connected a fjord pinch stunning views.

Following festivities that started connected Thursday, nan existent wedding ceremonial took spot successful a ample achromatic shelter group up connected a lush lawn. Guests told media outlets that Norwegian and U.S. artists performed astatine nan arena on pinch a gospel choir and a vocalist representing Norway’s indigenous Sámi people.

“It was fantastic! It was Hollywood meets Geiranger,” Norwegian TV characteristic Harald Rønneberg described nan colorful ceremonial to nationalist broadcaster NRK. “It was gospel and love. We laughed, we clapped, and we were touched. It was perfectly beautiful.”

The mates has sold nan wedding photograph authorities to British personage mag Hello! and nan movie authorities to Netflix. The deals prompted protests from Norwegian media, which opportunity nan statement goes against section practices. The mates person often lashed retired against nan property while promoting themselves connected societal media.

The 87-year-old King Harald, who has been successful vulnerable wellness nan past fewer years, attended his daughter’s wedding together pinch Queen Sonja and different personnel of nan Norwegian royal house. Crown Princess Victoria and her hubby Prince Daniel represented nan Swedish royal location together pinch her brother, Prince Carl Philip, and his woman Princess Sofia. No different European royals attended nan wedding.

The wedding comes amid wide disapproval of nan couple’s actions and waning support for nan Norwegian royals, who person besides been plagued by antagonistic reports astir an unruly family personnel who faces preliminary home unit charges.

Märtha Louise and Verrett, 49, person attracted headlines pinch their replacement beliefs. She is 4th successful statement to nan Norwegian throne but said successful 2022 that she’ll nary longer officially correspond nan Norwegian royal house.

The princess — she has retained nan title — has said she tin talk pinch angels, while Verrett claims that he communicates pinch a wide scope of spirits and has a medallion which helps ward disconnected spells and cure diseases.

They became engaged successful 2022. Following their marriage, Verrett will not person a royal title aliases charismatic duties.

In a 2019 deal, Märtha Louise and Verrett agreed not to usage her relationship to nan royal location aliases her title for commercialized purposes.

But earlier this twelvemonth Märtha Louise branded bottles of gin pinch her title and launched nan marque successful clip for nan wedding, defying King Harald’s directive that she should not profit from her royal status. The explanation was yet changed.

Märtha Louise has 3 children from her erstwhile matrimony pinch writer and playwright Ari Behn, whom she divided successful 2017 aft 14 years of marriage.

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Associated Press journalists Stefanie Dazio successful Berlin and Jan M. Olsen successful Copenhagen, Denmark contributed to this report.

Norway’s Princess Martha Louise and Durek Verrett astatine their wedding party, successful Geiranger, Norway, Saturday Aug. 31, 2024. | Heiko Junge, NTB via Associated Press