HELSINKI (AP) 鈥� Social media influencers, reality stars and TV personalities were among the guests as the Norwegian king鈥檚 eldest child, Princess M盲rtha Louise, married an American self-professed shaman on Saturday in a wedding ceremony following three days of festivities.
The 52-year-old M盲rtha Louise and Durek Verrett, who claims to be a sixth-generation shaman from California, tied the knot in the picturesque small town of Geiranger, one of Norway鈥檚 major tourist attractions located on a fjord with stunning views.
Following festivities that started on Thursday, the actual wedding ceremony took place in a large white tent set up on a lush lawn. Guests told media outlets that Norwegian and U.S. artists performed at the event along with a gospel choir and a singer representing Norway鈥檚 indigenous S谩mi people.
鈥淚t was fantastic! It was Hollywood meets Geiranger,鈥� Norwegian TV personality Harald R酶nneberg described the colorful ceremony to public broadcaster NRK. 鈥淚t was gospel and love. We laughed, we clapped, and we were touched. It was absolutely beautiful.鈥�
The couple has sold the wedding photo rights to British celebrity magazine Hello! and the film rights to Netflix. The deals prompted protests from Norwegian media, which say the arrangement goes against local practices. The couple have often lashed out against the press while promoting themselves on social media.
The 87-year-old King Harald, who has been in fragile health the past few years, attended his daughter鈥檚 wedding together with Queen Sonja and other member of the Norwegian royal house. Crown Princess Victoria and her husband Prince Daniel represented the Swedish royal house together 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鈥檚 actions and waning support for the Norwegian royals, who have also been plagued by negative reports about an unruly family member who .
M盲rtha Louise and Verrett, 49, have attracted headlines with their alternative beliefs. She is fourth in line to the Norwegian throne but said in 2022 that she鈥檒l the Norwegian royal house.
The princess 鈥� she has retained the title 鈥� has said she can talk with angels, while Verrett claims that he communicates with a broad range of spirits and has a medallion which helps ward off spells and cure diseases.
They became engaged in 2022. Following their marriage, Verrett will not have a royal title or official duties.
In a 2019 deal, M盲rtha Louise and Verrett agreed not to use her connection to the royal house or her title for commercial purposes.
But earlier this year M盲rtha Louise labeled bottles of gin with her title and launched the brand in time for the wedding, defying King Harald鈥檚 directive that she should not profit from her royal status. The label was eventually changed.
M盲rtha Louise has three children from her previous marriage with author and playwright Ari Behn, whom she after 14 years of marriage.
鈥�
Associated Press journalists Stefanie Dazio in Berlin and Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark contributed to this report.
Jari Tanner, The Associated Press
