Princess Martha Louise of Norway reveals why she and Shaman Durek missed Christmas Day with the Norwegian royals – as she blasts rumours of a family feud

Princess Martha Louise of Norway has shut down rumours of a feud with her family as she revealed why she and Durek Verrett spent Christmas apart from them.

The Norwegian royal, 53, married the American Sharman during a four-day extravaganza – which was documented exclusively by Hello magazine and Netflix – in the coastal town of Geiranger in August.

The couple were introduced by friends in 2019 and have claimed to have known each other in a past life, specifically the days of ancient Egypt. 

However, Princess’ new husband has become a controversial figure in Norway due to his pseudoscientific views, including cancer in children can be caused by ‘being unhappy’.

Although the Norwegian Royal Family showed their support for the couple by attending the wedding, Crown Prince Haakon previously admitted his brother-in-law has proven to be ‘controversial’ and that he feels ‘responsible’ for the future of the monarchy.

Last week, Princess Martha Louise shut down any suggestion of a feud between her and her family and revealed they spent Christmas apart due to Durek’s health.

According to Se og Hør, the spiritual healer – who flits between describing himself as a ‘third and sixth generation shaman’ – was still struggling with ‘severe kidney disease’ in 2023. The couple claim he is still receiving dialysis. 

During a recent Instagram Live, Durek said he is ‘waiting for friends to offer me a new kidney’ – having reportedly previously raised $20,000 for his first kidney transplant surgery in 2012.

Explaining how she wanted to ‘avoid any misunderstandings’, the mother-of-three wrote on Instagram: ‘Unfortunately, we cannot attend church today. 

‘Durek is in the hospital receiving dialysis, which he has to have 3 times a week, and today is one of those days. 

‘I am very ill, and cannot come because of that. Sad that we have to justify why we are not at church, so as not to create speculation that there is discord in the family, which there is not. 

‘We still love each other. Fortunately. We would have attended if we could. But it didn’t work out this year. Merry Christmas!’ 

The royal shared four images alongside the announcement – beginning with one of her and Durek posing next to a snow-covered Christmas tree.

Along with a photo of them kissing and a selfie from a sunny getaway, the royal also posted an image of herself and Durek with her three daughters Maud Angelica, 21, Leah Isadora, 19, and Emma Tallulah, 16, whom she shared with her ex-husband Ari Behn.

Earlier that day, Princess Martha-Louise paid tribute to her late husband – who took his own life on Christmas Day in 2019.

Sharing photos of the author with his daughters, Martha-Louise wrote on Instagram: ‘5 years ago today, this happened. What we never thought would happen. 

‘Our dear Ari chose to leave life by himself. These have been difficult times, a big lesson in dealing with grief. 

‘But also nice moments where we remember all the good things we had together. Because grief is so diverse. And the worst time for all of us is Christmas […]

‘Right now, in the darkest time of the year, it is more important than ever to lend a hand. Be there for those who need it. 

‘I hope you dare to speak out if you are feeling heavy. So we can extend a hand to you. Because there is always hope.’ 

Meanwhile, the official Instagram page for the Norwegian Royal Family posted a photo of King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway with their son Crown Prince Haakon, his wife Princess Mette-Marit and their daughter Princess Ingrid Alexandra to mark the festive season.

Although Princess Martha Louise has denied any feuds in her own family, the newlyweds have publicly fallen out with Durek Verrett’s estranged mother, who did not attend the wedding.

One month before their nuptials, the couple sent a cease-and-desist letter to Veruschka Urquhart, with Durek explaining on Instagram how they believe their decision is ‘the only remaining option for change’.

He said his mother has ‘repeatedly slandered our characters through false statements showing a significant lack of care and love towards Märtha, myself, and our respective families’.

In interviews with celebrity magazine Se og Hør, Veruschka has labelled her son ‘dangerous’, alleging that he had ‘brainwashed’ the princess and that their family was not as wealthy as Durek has tried to make out.

In a defiant Instagram post, Princess Martha Louise included comments from one of Durek’s former classmates who insisted he was ‘one of the richest kids’ in their school. 

Accusing the publication of ‘spreading lies’, the royal wrote: ‘This time they are repeating the lie that Durek was not from a wealthy family as a child […], when the truth is that he grew up in a good neighbourhood, his mom left him at an early age and it was in reality his mom not having money, not him.

‘She wasn’t even around. Durek’s father’s bankruptcy came after Durek moved out, so he was not affected by his father’s bankruptcy.’

Martha Louise then proceeded to share photos of the Californian mansion Durek claims to have grown up in, which was listed for over $3m when it was last on the market.

Although Durek has claimed he had his first spiritual experience at four years old, it was ‘coming back to from the dead’ in 2002 that ‘strengthened’ his powers and ‘devotion to Spirit’.

‘I already identified with being Shaman Durek, but it became more clear when I came back from dying,’ he explained.

It’s believed he’s referring to a medical emergency that occurred in 2002, although reports of when the incident actually happened vary.

His own book says he was 27, a new interview with Hello! ahead of his wedding puts him at 28, in a video on his Facebook page he says he was 29, while another interview suggested he was 30-years-old.

‘I woke up in the middle of the night to find a spirit sitting on top of me, reaching into my body. The next thing I knew, I was strapped to a gurney in an ambulance with my friend Marcus sitting next to me, looking all kinds of freaked out,’ he said in his book.

By his own account, he suffered seven seizures on the way to hospital and his organs started shutting down. He was clinically dead for four minutes before being revived.

‘My dead grandmother appeared in the hospital room and told me to relax into the pain and to let death take me, he explained.

In November 2022, Princess Martha announced she was stepping down as a senior member of the Royal Family in a move labelled ‘Norway’s Megxit’. 

This September, Princess Martha Louise sat down with Anna Hedenmo on Min Sanning – which translates to My Truth – and said she felt she needed to step back because of public image.

She said: ‘I am probably the one in Norway who has received the most criticism of all, I think.’ 

Elsewhere in the television special, the mother touched on how her ex-husband Ari Behn – who took his own life in December 2019 – handled being in the spotlight.

Following their wedding in 2002, the royal said the father of her three children – who made a name for himself as an author -said he didn’t receive good reviews of his work.

She added: ‘His mental health depended a lot on him getting criticism in the media. But I am not saying it was anyone’s fault. It is always how you handle criticism. 

‘The press took self-criticism after he died, that they were perhaps a little harsh towards him, and that he only received criticism and was actually a very nice person.’

In June 2022, the newly-engaged couple appeared in a video together on Durek’s Instagram account where the American spiritual guide – whose celebrity clients have included Gwyneth Paltrow, Nina Dobrev and James Van Der Beek – hit back at online trolling they’ve faced.

He said: ‘One, they don’t want to see a black man in the Royal Family because there’s never been one in the history of the European royal family.

‘Second, she’s a female – it’s different when a royal prince chooses a woman of colour because it’s like, “oh he’s a man, he can choose whoever he wants”.

‘But for a princess to choose a man of colour, has never been done in history. So it’s really though for a lot of people to be able to handle that.’