Will Shaman Durek Receive a Royal Title After Marrying Princess Märtha Louise of Norway?
There's historical precedent to the next step for the newlyweds
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Princess Martha Louise and Durek Verrett on their Aug. 31, 2024 wedding day in Geiranger, Norway.Shaman Durek Verrett and Princess Märtha Louise of Norway are living happily ever after following their epic wedding — so will he become a prince?
On Aug. 31, King Harald and Queen Sonja's daughter married the American "6th generation shaman" to the stars at Hotel Union in Geiranger, Norway before 350 guests, including members of her royal family. While the celebration was attended by the King and Queen, both 87, and the bride's brother Crown Prince Haakon, his wife Crown Princess Mette-Marit and their kids Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 20, and Prince Sverre Magnus, 18, the couple probably isn't expecting a royal title for Durek as a wedding present.
Princess Märtha Louise, 52, and Durek, 49, announced their engagement in June 2022 after about three years of dating. That fall, the Royal House of Norway specified what Durek's role would be when they married, after Märtha Louise renounced her royal role in order to more freely pursue other business interests.
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Princess Martha Louise and Durek Verrett on their Aug. 31, 2024 wedding dayRelated: Princess Märtha Louise of Norway Marries American Shaman Durek Verrett
"In the same way as Erling Lorentzen, Johan Martin Ferner and Ari Behn, Durek Verrett will become part of the Royal Family when they marry, but in line with tradition he will not have any title or represent the Royal House," the court said in a statement, translated into English, about Princess Märtha Louise's step back in November 2022.
Lorentzen and Ferner were the husbands of King Harald's sisters, the late Princess Ragnhild and Princess Astrid, who was a guest at her niece's wedding. Behn was Princess Märtha Louise's first husband and did not have a formal royal role during their marriage.
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Princess Martha Louise of Norway and Ari Behn on their May 24, 2002 wedding day.The former couple married in 2002 and split in 2016, with their divorce finalized the following year. Princess Märtha Louise and Behn, an author and playwright, welcomed three daughters during their marriage — Maud Angelica, 21, Leah Isadora, 19, and Emma Tallulah, 15. Behn died by suicide in 2019, and his ex was open about dealing with depression following his death.
Märtha Louise found love again with Durek, and they opened up to PEOPLE in 2019 about the strong connection they share, where the shaman said he once lived with the princess in Egypt in a past life.
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Princess Martha Louise and Durek Verrett on their Aug. 31, 2024 wedding day."When we’re together and I look at [Märtha], sometimes I see another face," Durek told PEOPLE in 2019. "And she sees it in me, too. I have memories of us in Egypt, and she was my queen and I was a pharaoh."
The couple made it official when they married in a multi-day celebration that capped with the ceremony at Hotel Union on Aug. 31. The wedding was attended by Cynthia Bailey, Princess Sarah, Matthew Dennis Lewis, Derek Jameson, Tiensirin, Derek Warburton, Tanya Khani, Hope Obtala, Frank Elaridi and Kent Speakman, and the bride's three daughters were in the wedding procession, Hello!reported.
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Princess Martha Louise's daughters (from second left) Maud Angelica Behn, Emma Tallulah Behn and Leah Isadora Behn on their mother's Aug. 31, 2024 wedding day.Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
Before Princess Märtha Louise and Durek's nuptials, the most recent royal wedding in Norway was when Crown Prince Haakon married Crown Princess Mette-Marit in August 2001. Mette-Marit received her Crown Princess title upon her marriage to Haakon given his role as heir to the throne, and their two children were born with royal titles. However, Crown Princess Mette-Marit's son Marius Borg Høiby from a previous relationship did not inherit a title or future royal duty when his mom married Haakon.
In a twist, though Märtha Louise relinquished her royal role, her daughters remain in the line of succession to the throne. Absolute primogeniture, or the right to rule regardless of gender, was not constitutionally adopted in Norway until 1990, according to the Royal House, meaning that Haakon was always destined to reign one day.
When Princess Märtha Louise announced her step back, the court said it was King Harald's wish for his daughter to retain her princess title and that Märtha Louise and her fiancé would still attend important family events.
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