Who Are Princess Martha Louise and Shaman Durek? 'Rebel Royals' Explained

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Princess Märtha Louise of Norway’s marriage to Shaman Durek Verrett is set to be explored in the upcoming Netflix documentary Rebel Royals.

“Marrying into the royal family, it’s just very, very surreal,” Verrett, 50, said in the documentary’s trailer, which dropped on Wednesday, September 3. “When I met the queen and king, they were just staring at me.”

The couple have made headlines all over the world for their unlikely courtship, which started in 2019 after they were introduced by friends. Märtha Louise fell for Verrett first, claiming that she already knew him once they met. Verrett, meanwhile, was a bit more “apprehensive” to start a relationship.

“I thought, ‘Maybe I’m going to end up with a man,’” he revealed in the documentary trailer. “As far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t matter if it’s a male or a female, or it could be another being from another planet.”

The couple went on to detail the ups and downs they’ve faced in the public — with some critics claiming the princess was “brainwashed” — ahead of their August 2024 wedding.

Keep scrolling for everything to know:

Who Is Shaman Durek Verrett?

The celebrity shaman was endorsed by Gwyneth Paltrow and Goop, along with other stars, before marrying into Norway’s royal family. Verrett describes himself as a sixth-generation shaman. His credentials have been questioned by critics, however, and members of the Norwegian press have claimed that he’s conning the princess.

“I’ve had celebrities come to sessions with me, pull off all of their clothes and ask me to f*** them,” Verrett claimed in a 2020 Vanity Fair article. “I’ve had women and men — can’t say names, but I can tell you, big names — who have come in and been like, ‘I’ve always dreamed about having sex with a shaman.’ I’m like, ‘That’s not why I’m here for you.’”

Princess Martha Louise and Shaman Durek Verretts Romance Explored in Rebel Royals

Shaman Durek Verrett, Märtha Louise i Courtesy of Netflix

Who Is Princess Martha Louise?

Märtha Louise is the daughter of Harald V, the king of Norway, and his wife, Sonja Haraldsen, the queen of Norway. She is a self-proclaimed clairvoyant and a member of the Scandinavian country’s royal family.

Prior to her relationship with Verrett, the Norwegian royal was married to Ari Behn from 2002 to 2017. He died by suicide in December 2019 at age 47.

When Did Shaman Durek and Princess Martha Louise Get Married?

The couple tied the knot on August 31, 2024, in Norway. Verrett did not receive a royal title following their nuptials.

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When Does ‘Rebel Royals’ Premiere?

The documentary is set to hit Netflix on Tuesday, September 16.

Who Directed ‘Rebel Royals’?

Rebecca Chaiklin — of Tiger King fame — brought the story to life on screen.

“When I saw the Vanity Fair article about a princess and a shaman falling in love, it instantly caught my eye,” she shared in a statement. “Märtha Louise and Shaman Durek were two completely unexpected, wild and charismatic characters from totally different worlds, navigating a swirl of controversy and fighting for love. It was a great fish-out-of-water story — and they were so funny.”

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