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Helsinki: Social media influencers, reality stars and TV personalities were among the guests as the Norwegian king’s eldest child, Princess Märtha Louise, married an American self-professed shaman in a wedding ceremony following three days of festivities.
The 52-year-old Märtha 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’s major tourist attractions located on a fjord with stunning views.
Norway’s Princess Martha Louise and Durek Verrett arrive for their wedding party, in Geiranger, Norway.Credit: AP
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 US artists performed at the event along with a gospel choir and a singer representing Norway’s indigenous Sámi people.
“It was fantastic! It was Hollywood meets Geiranger,” Norwegian TV personality Harald Rønneberg described the colourful ceremony to public broadcaster NRK. “It was gospel and love. We laughed, we clapped, and we were touched. It was absolutely beautiful.”
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’s wedding together with Queen Sonja and other members 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.
Guests attend the wedding of Norway’s Princess Martha Louise and Durek Verrett, in Geiranger, Norway.Credit: AP
While Verrett has referred to wellness guru Gwyneth Paltrow as his “soul sister”, it was not clear whether she attended the event, London’s Telegraph reported.
Speaking to Hello! Verrett added: “Love transcends all things because love is the original energy that we all are on this planet. It triumphs everything.”