The 51-year-old princess’s relationship with Durek Verrett once caused waves in Norway.
Oslo:
Princess Martha Louise of Norway on Tuesday abandoned her royal duties to focus on the alternative medicine business with her fiance, a self-proclaimed magician.
The 51-year-old princess’s relationship with Durek Verrett, a famous Hollywood spiritual guru, caused waves in Norway after the African-American “sixth generation shaman” suggested in the book ” Spirit Hacking” that cancer is a choice.
He also sells a $222 medal on his website dubbed the “Spirit Optimizer,” which he claims helped him get through Covid-19.
A September poll found that 17% of Norwegians now have a lower opinion of the royal family in general, nearly all citing princesses and shamans.
In a video posted to Instagram on Tuesday, the princess said she was stepping down “to bring calm to the Royal Family”.
The palace said the princess has “relinquished her role as royal patron … and will not represent the royal family at this time”.
However, “according to the wishes of the king, the princess will keep her title”.
King Harald, speaking to the press afterwards with Queen Sonja at his side, said he was “sorry” that the princess would no longer represent the royal family.
“She is very good at it,” he said.
‘Agree to disagree’
Martha Louise, who claimed to be able to speak with angels, lost her “Royal Princess” title in 2002 when she chose to work as a clairvoyant.
In 2019, the divorced mother-of-three agreed not to use the princess title in her commercial endeavors.
But since becoming engaged to Verrett in June, the couple’s faith in alternative therapies, often featured on their social media channels, has taken Norwegians by surprise.
Some groups of healthcare professionals have dropped the princess as a patron because her fiancé tends to use alternative medicine.
“He was an impostor, a charlatan and a tramp,” said Dagfinn Nordbo, columnist and humorist.
Under the agreement announced Tuesday, the couple will restrict any links to the royal family to their social media channels, media products and commercial activities.
“This is intended to draw a clearer line of business with the Norwegian Royal Family,” the palace said.
Speaking of Verrett, the king told reporters that after discussions between all parties, “both we and he have a better understanding of what the matter is and we have agreed to disagree.” .
“We can live with our differences,” he added.
‘Spiritual Matters’
The Royal Family said it had “great confidence in the Norwegian health service and Norwegian health authorities”, stressing the importance of “established medical knowledge and scientific research”.
Martha Louise said she was “aware of the importance of research-based knowledge”.
“However, I also believe that there are components of a good life and good physical and mental health that may not be easy to summarize in a research report.”
She says “spiritualism, closeness with other people and animals, yoga and meditation” can be important supplements, as can “a warm hand, an acupuncture needle, a crystal “.
She said it was important “to distinguish between me as a private person and on the other hand as a member of the royal family”.
She hopes her personal views will be considered her own “without the need for others to respond to them”.
The king said he thinks Verrett – whom he describes as “a wonderful and very funny guy” – now also has a better understanding of the role of the monarchy in Norway.
“Americans don’t understand what it means. They don’t,” he said with a laugh.
The palace says that once the princess and Verrett are married, her new husband will become a member of the royal family but will not hold a title or represent the monarchy.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from an aggregated feed.)
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