Who Is Princess Märtha Louise’s Husband? All About Durek Verrett

When Norway’s Princess Märtha Louise and self-proclaimed shaman Durek Verrett announced their engagement in 2022, they made headlines around the world — but Verrett had already made a name for himself as a new age spiritual leader to the stars.

The author and podcaster leads workshops that help people go “to another level in your evolution,” as he told The New York Times in 2020.

Verrett married Princess Märtha Louise in August 2024, in a lavish wedding in Norway. Ahead of their nuptials, the couple shared what they love about each other on Princess Märtha Louise’s podcast HeartSmart Conversations.

“I love Durek’s wisdom and humor and his depth, and that we can talk about any topic under the sun and that he always sees me, and always wants to evolve,” she said. After their engagement, Princess Märtha Louise stepped back from her royal duties, though she retained her title.

Before their Netflix documentary, Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story, was released on Sept. 16, the couple sat down with PEOPLE and spoke about the scrutiny they had faced about their relationship.

“I tried to warn Durek about what it would be like, and I don’t think anybody can ask them or understand it before they’re actually in it,” Princess Märtha Louise said. “I’ve had this adversity from when I was a teenager, so I knew more what was coming than what Durek did, but we have become stronger and also more focused on actually speaking our truth and standing up for who we truly are in the process.”

So, who is Princess Märtha Louise’s husband? Here is everything to know about Durek Verrett and his relationship with the Norwegian royal.

He practices “spirit shamanism”

On his website, Verrett describes himself as a “sixth generation shaman” and “a globally celebrated spiritual leader, author, and visionary devoted to redefining wellness by placing the power back into the hands of the people.”

Part of his work is global online Healing Temple sessions; he also has a podcast called Ancient Wisdom Today, an app called The Lit Vibe Meditation App and has published a book called Spirit Hacking: Shamanic Keys to Reclaim Your Personal Power, Transform Yourself, and Light Up the World.

His teachings blend world religions and focus on helping people find mental and spiritual clarity.

“Through a lifetime of spiritual study, he draws from the teachings of Jesus, the Koran and Muslim traditions, Jewish studies of the Torah and Kabbalah, the Bhagavad Gita, Buddhist practices, and African spiritual wisdom,” Verrett’s website reads. “His understanding of sociology and human development allows him to hold transformative space for individuals, guiding them to uncover their highest potential with love, compassion, and grace.”

Verrett has had many celebrity clients

Verrett doesn’t exclusively work with celebrities, but he has done work with A-listers like Gwyneth Paltrow, Nina Dobrev, Chris Pine and Selma Blair. Paltrow once called him her “light in shining armor” and featured him on her Goop wellness site.

Talking to PEOPLE in 2019, Verrett opened up more about his process, saying, “All I’m doing is holding a container and throwing a bunch of tools in that container and saying, ‘See yourself, here are the tools, how far do you want to go?’ ”

His mother allegedly predicted his relationship with Princess Märtha Louise when he was young

The couple met through a mutual friend, health and wellness guru Millana Snow, in 2018 — but according to Verrett, his mother predicted that they would find each other when he was a teenager.

In a 2019 Instagram post, Verrett wrote, “My mother told me that one day someone from her heritage in Norway would find me and bring so much joy in my heart. I asked her, ‘Who, mother?’ She said, ‘A princess.’ I laughed and said, ‘Okay, a princess. Whatever, mother, you’re funny.’ Well, she was right. My kindred spirit found me.”

Princess Märtha Louise echoed a similar sentiment when she went public with their relationship. “When you meet your twin flame, you know. I have been lucky enough to have met mine,” she captioned an Instagram post in 2019. “@shamandurek has changed my life, like he does with so many. He has made me realize that unconditional love actually exists here on this planet. He embraces all of me without question or fear. He makes me laugh more than anyone, has the most profound wisdom to share and all the bits in between from the diversity of his being.”

They married in August 2024 in a lavish Norwegian wedding

Princess Märtha Louise and Verrett’s August 2024 wedding was a lavish, multi-day affair on the west coast of Norway.

It included parties and a boat trip to the Geiranger Fjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The festivities culminated with a 350-person ceremony attended by Norway’s King Harald and Queen Sonja (Princess Märtha Louise’s parents) and the rest of the royal family.

Verrett is the first modern Black man to marry into a European royal family

When the couple married, Verrett became part of the Norwegian Royal Family. After he proposed to Princess Märtha Louise, Verrett reflected on the historic milestone of becoming the first modern Black man to marry into a European royal family.

“[It] will set a precedent for my people that we are not to be forgotten, and we deserve to be acknowledged for the greatness of who we are and where we come from,” he told PEOPLE in 2022. “There’s always been kings and queens in Africa, but unfortunately, they haven’t been recognized in the world in the way that they deserve.”

He didn’t receive a royal title after the wedding

In November 2022, the Norwegian Royal Family made an announcement about what Verrett’s role would be after their wedding.

“When Durek Verrett and Princess Märtha Louise are married, Mr Verrett will become a part of the Royal Family ­… But in accordance with tradition he will not have a title or represent the Royal House of Norway,” the statement read. Princess Märtha Louise’s first husband, Ari Behn, similarly did not receive a title.

However, the statement went on to say that not giving Verrett a title wasn’t a sign he was unwelcome in the family.

“We are very pleased by the engagement of the Princess to Derek Verrett, and we want Mr Verrett to feel welcome in our family,” it read.