Princess Martha Louise of Norway has renounced her royal duties to focus on her alternative medicine business with her self-proclaimed shaman fiancé.
The Princess will retain her title but will relinquish her official obligations to “establish a clearer distinction” between her private and royal roles.
Durek Verrett, her fiance, has advocated unproven medical practices, including the notion that cancer is a choice.
Additionally, the American asserts that she has impacted Gwyneth Paltrow.
Princess Martha Louise is “renouncing her patronage function” to “separate more clearly between their actions and the Royal House of Norway,” according to a statement from the palace. It was also stated that King Harald V had determined that she would retain her title.
“She has carried out her duties with kindness, compassion, and dedication,” stated the statement.
Despite the news, King Harald praised Mr. Verrett as “a fantastic guy and a lot of joy to be around.”
“Even in this terrible moment, he has a great sense of humor, and we laugh frequently. I believe he and we both have a better grasp of the issue at hand, and we have agreed to disagree “King Harald said to Norwegian journalists.
In a second statement, Princess Martha Louise stated that she was “conscious of the importance of research-based information” but that she thought alternative medicine to be an “essential adjunct” to conventional medical care.
She said that it was essential to distinguish between herself as a private individual and as a member of the Royal Family.
Princess Mette-Marit, 51, has been the subject of controversy in Norway for decades due to her involvement in alternative remedies, such as establishing a school to assist people in “getting in touch with their angels.” She has been accused of leveraging her royal status to obtain an advantage in competition.
She wed Norwegian author and artist Ari Behn in 2002, and the couple produced three daughters. They separated in 2017, and on Christmas Day 2019, Mr. Behn, who had admitted to suffering from depression, committed suicide.
Princess Martha Louise and Mr. Verrett became engaged in June. She announced the relationship in an Instagram post published in 2019, thereby avoiding potential criticism.
In the message, she stated: “To those who feel compelled to criticize, please hold your horses. You have no authority to choose for me or judge me. Shaman Durek is simply a man with whom I like spending time and who fulfills me.”
Despite this, the couple has drawn much criticism in Norway, with Mr. Verrett being variously referred to as a “charlatan,” a con artist, and a conspiracy theorist.
Erna Solberg, the former prime minister of Norway, described his beliefs as “extremely weird” and “not fact-based,” adding that they supported conspiracy theories.
Mr. Durek, an African-American self-described as a “Sixth Generation Shaman,” claims to have resurrected from the dead and prophesied the 9/11 attacks in the United States two years in advance.
He has stated that the criticism he receives is the result of racism, stating that he has “never faced as much prejudice as when he arrived in Norway.” In addition, he has compared himself to Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison, alleging they were “geniuses” who were “misunderstood.”
On his website, he identifies himself as a “now-age visionary” who “demystifies spirituality.” He said that his work impacted Gwyneth Paltrow and Nina Dobrev.
13% of Norwegians, according to a September survey, believe Princess Martha Louise should represent the Royal Family in official capacities.
A royal biographer stated to local media, “I believe this has more to do with the occult phenomenon she has been linked to than with the princess herself.”
