Princess Märtha Louise's Royal Family to Skip Wedding Photos Over Controversial Media Deal: Report

Princess Märtha Louise of Norway's wedding next week might not include a photo op with other members of the Norwegian royal family.

King Harald and Queen Sonja's only daughter is set to wed Shaman Durek Verrett at Hotel Union in Geiranger in Norway on Aug. 31, and Hello! magazine announced that it will be covering the nuptials. The Norwegian Broadcasting Company (NRK) also reported that the wedding's television rights are connected to Netflix, per a translation to English.

Due to the exclusivity of the alleged arrangements, the Royal House of Norway's head of communications, Guri Varpe, told NRK that members of the royal family will refrain from being photographed and filmed by the two outlets when other press won't have access.

"Here a key member of the Norwegian royal family is breaking what has been a long and good tradition," Reidun Kjelling Nybø of the Norwegian Editors' Association told NRK. "Major events have been documented via Norwegian broad media, such as NTB and NRK, on ​​behalf of the entire press, which has passed the images on to the people and to other newsrooms that want them, including foreign ones."

The outlet said that other media "will have limited access to the wedding and will not be able to document the wedding." According to NRK, the public and the press will get to see Princess Märtha Louise, 52, and Durek, 49, when they step out to greet well-wishers after their wedding, with "one or more photos of the bride and groom with their family" to be circulated afterwards. Photos from the wedding itself will come from Hello!, NRK said.

The guidance might mean that the family picture includes Princess Märtha Louise's daughters Maud Angelica, 21, Leah Isadora, 19, and Emma Tallulah, 15, whom she shares with her late ex-husband, Ari Behn.

"We think it is very unfortunate. We are very disappointed about it. And actually terribly surprised. This is a new image in the Norwegian public and a new turn from the Norwegian princess," news editor Christina Dorthellinger of NTB told the outlet.

"It is historic if we do not have that access. We have been to all major public events and celebrations and anniversaries related to the Norwegian royal house ever since King Haakon arrived in Norway in November 1905," Dorthellinger added, referring to King Harald's grandfather, who reigned from 1905 until his death in 1957.

In May 2019, Princess Märtha Louise announced her relationship with Durek, an American "sixth generation shaman" who, according to his website, boasts a celebrity clientele. The two shared that they were engaged in June 2022, and in September 2023 the couple revealed that they would wed in Norway the following summer on Aug. 31.

In April, both Märtha Louise and Durek denounced "lies" in the press ahead of their wedding. Märtha Louise claimed that her fiancé's mother allegedly spread false information about his childhood in California, while Durek said that they were "drawing a line" to focus on the future together.

"We are focusing on creating a wedding that reflects the depth of our love and are filled with excitement and joy for the celebrations ahead. Thank you for your understanding as we embark on this beautiful journey together, celebrating our love ending in our wedding in Geiranger," he wrote on Instagram.

In June, the spiritual guide, whose website reads his "teachings have impacted thousands" including Gwyneth Paltrow and Nina Dobrev, revealed they would be married by Parish Priest Margit Lovise Holte with Reverend Michael Beckwith participating with a greeting.

"We look forward to this beautiful day with great joy," Durek wrote below a photo on Instagram.

Princess Märtha Louise's alleged media arrangement around her nuptials might be possible because she is no longer a working member of the royal family. The Royal House of Norway announced in November 2022 that she was relinquishing the royal role she inherited at birth in order to more freely pursue other interests without the restrictions of being affiliated with the crown.

"Princess Märtha Louise wishes to differentiate more clearly between her own activities and her relationship to the Royal House of Norway. The Princess has therefore decided, in consultation with His Majesty The King and other close family members, that she will not carry out official duties for the Royal House at the present time," the palace said in a statement at the time.

Princess Märtha Louise gave up her patronages but was allowed to keep her princess title. 

The statement specified that Märtha Louise and Durek "are seeking to distinguish more clearly between their activities and the Royal House of Norway" and will not use her princess title or reference other members of the royal family on social media, in media work or for other commercial purposes. An exception was made for Märtha Louise's @PrincessMarthaLouise handle, though she has shifted to updating another account.

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"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," the statement said.

The last major wedding for the royal family of Norway was the nuptials of Märtha Louise's younger brother, Crown Prince Haakon, to Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby, now known as Crown Princess Mette-Marit, in 2001. 

In a twist, Princess Märtha Louise's step back from her working royal role in 2022 did not affect the line of succession. Absolute primogeniture, or the right to rule regardless of gender, wasn't constitutionally adopted in Norway until 1990, meaning that Crown Prince Haakon, 51, was always destined to inherit the throne. He is followed in the line of succession by his daughter, 20-year-old Princess Ingrid Alexandra.