Despite marrying a Norwegian princess, the Californian shaman has not been granted a royal title. This is because the Norwegian royal family does not bestow royal titles upon men who marry into the family, and Durek will not be undertaking any royal duties.
This was confirmed after Durek and Märtha Louise’s engagement was announced in 2022, with a statement from the royal palace reading: “Like Erling Lorentzen, Johan Martin Ferner and Ari Behn, Durek Verrett will become part of the Royal Family when he marries, but in keeping with tradition, he will have no title or represent the Royal Family.
“Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett will be present at important celebrations in the family, such as birthday celebrations — or at some major sporting events where there is a tradition for the Royal Family to participate together.”
While it is customary for men not to receive royal titles upon marrying into the Norwegian royal family, Märtha Louise also removed the ‘royal’ from her title after stepping back from official duties in November 2022, five months after announcing her engagement to Durek. On the family’s official website, she is now simply styled as Her Highness Princess Märtha Louise.
It was confirmed that Märtha Louise had come to the decision in order to “differentiate more clearly between her own activities and her relationship to the Royal House of Norway”.
The move meant that she no longer represents her family on official business and she had to relinquish all of the patronages she held at the time.
At the time, a statement said: “The King and Queen wish to thank Princess Märtha Louise for the important work she has carried out in her official capacity for several decades. She has performed her duties with warmth, care and deep commitment.In accordance with The King’s wishes, the Princess will keep her title. The Princess will continue to serve as chair of the board of Princess Märtha Louise’s Fund.”
In an exclusive pre-wedding interview, Durek shared that he sought King Harald V and Queen Sonja’s blessing before proposing to Märtha Louise in 2022.
“I have old school views on courtship, and asking for Märtha’s hand in marriage was about respect,” explained Durek. “The King and Queen asked me questions about myself and the future, and went quiet for a bit. I was sweating as I waited for their response – and then they turned to me and said they’d love to have me as part of the family.”
Märtha added: At my age, I could choose for myself! But my parents had to wait nine years before they could wed and always told me they wanted me to marry whoever I wanted.”
