The Wild True Story Behind Rebel Royals and Norway’s Controversial Royal Relationship

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Royal families often face public drama, and recently, the conflict between Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and the British Royal Family has been a major headline. However, another interesting story is the romance between Norway’s Princess Märtha Louise and American shaman Durek Verrett. Verrett, who has worked with celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Nina Dobrev, would be the first Black man to marry into a European royal family. Their relationship is the subject of the new Netflix documentary, *Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story*.

It might be surprising to learn that a princess married a shaman, but after watching *Rebel Royals*, it’s clear they’re a great match. Princess Märtha Louise of Norway believes she has psychic abilities and can connect with angels. She’s deeply involved in alternative healing and opened her own school, Astarte Education (known as “angel school”), in 2018, where she teaches others how to communicate with angels and spirits.

Durek, a well-known shaman, authored the book *Spirit Hacking* in 2019, which focuses on reclaiming personal power and self-transformation. He’s gained a large following on social media, with almost 500,000 followers on Instagram. Despite charging $1,500 per session, Durek believes his work is accessible to everyone, stating, “I’m a shaman for the people.” In the documentary *Rebel Royals*, he identifies as “soul-sexual,” meaning he isn’t limited by gender when it comes to attraction.

Verrett and Louise connected in 2018 and felt an immediate, uncanny connection, as if they’d known each other in another life. Verrett recalls that when Louise mentioned they’d met before, he remembered a past life in Egypt where she was his queen. They announced their relationship on Instagram without telling their managers first, and by the time they arrived in Norway so Verrett could meet Louise’s family, the news had already created a media frenzy.

Before Verrett could propose, he had to ask Louise’s parents – the King and Queen of Norway – for their blessing. “It took some time,” Verrett explains, “but I eventually got their approval.” The announcement of their engagement caused a stir in Norway, with rumors spreading that Verrett was trying to exploit Louise, especially because she is fourth in line to the throne. Some people speculated he was attempting to marry into the royal family to gain power and potentially become king.

In the film, Verrett explains that he felt suffocated by the strict and rigid rules of royal life. Norway, a country of around 5.5 million people, operates under a strong, unwritten social code called Janteloven. This code emphasizes humility, discouraging anyone from believing they are superior to others, smarter, skilled, or even worthy of attention. While this might seem severe to Americans, Norwegian culture is generally understated and reserved, creating potential friction with those accustomed to more expressive American lifestyles. This clash was amplified by Verrett’s larger-than-life personality – he’s confident, authentic, and proud – which directly opposes the principles of Janteloven.

Wow, it’s been tough watching the fallout from Princess Märtha Louise’s relationship with Shaman Durek Verrett. He’s been getting so much hate online and in the press, and a lot of it is clearly racist. It reminded a lot of people of what happened with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, and the Norwegian royals actually *noticed* that parallel. Apparently, they were worried they were letting the same kind of discrimination happen to Durek. What’s really interesting is how differently they handled it than the British royals. Instead of staying silent, the King of Norway actually put out a statement last year, basically saying he absolutely wouldn’t tolerate the racist treatment Durek was getting. It was a really refreshing move, honestly – a clear signal that they weren’t okay with it.

Even with the King’s backing, the Norwegian media wouldn’t stop reporting on Verrett. They dug into his past podcast interviews, finding plenty of controversial material – including claims he was part reptile, part alien, and explicit details about his personal life. He also faced criticism for selling a medallion online that he said could cure COVID-19. The documentary *Rebel Royals* also obtained leaked voicemails from 2020, shared by a former friend, in which Verrett supposedly described performing sexual acts with a client during a healing session. The documentary notes that Verrett denies these accusations and is suing the tabloid that published the messages.

A survey featured in the documentary showed that most Norwegians – 60% – felt Verrett’s behavior had damaged public trust in the Royal Family. Facing increasing scrutiny, Louise resigned from her royal responsibilities in 2022, ending her official work for the family. This raised a key question about the wedding costs, as royal weddings are usually funded by taxpayers. However, Verrett and Louise decided on a private ceremony, with the magazine HELLO! covering the cost of exclusive wedding photos.

Verrett and Louise sought guidance from spiritual sources to select their wedding date, August 31, 2024, believing the alignment of Virgo, Scorpio, and Venus made it particularly auspicious. Although no longer an official princess, Louise was joined by her entire family, including the King and Queen, for the lavish ceremony. The wedding was held in the stunning and historically significant location of Geiranger, Norway – a place known for its breathtaking scenery and as the Vikings’ first landing site. The couple recently celebrated their first anniversary and remain happily married.

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2025-09-17 00:06