Princess Marta Luisa will no longer represent the Royal House of Norway as of Tuesday in a bilateral decision agreed amid the controversy generated by the relationship she has with Durek Verrett, an American businessman and shaman.
As reported by the royal family in a statement, the princess «wants to contribute to a clearer distinction between her own activities and the connection with the Royal House», for which, with the approval of his father, King Harald V, will cease to perform official functions.
Thus, although the king has decided that Marta Luisa will keep her title of princess, she will have to abandon this distinction in her official channels and in her commercial activities, with the exception of her profile on the social network Instagram.
Likewise, Verrett, who plans to marry the princess, will become part of the royal family, but will not hold any title or be able to represent the Royal House. Marta Luisa and Verrett will be able to occasionally attend family activities, such as «birthdays or major sporting events».
«The King and Queen (Sonia of Norway) wish to thank Princess Marta Luisa for the significant efforts she has made through her official work over the decades. She has carried out her work with care, warmth and great commitment,» the Royal House concluded.
On a personal level, Marta Luisa has shared on Instagram a video in which she confirms the news, notes that her decision has been taken after the controversy aroused by her fiancé and the future role of the couple, and assures that the measure aims to «create peace in the Royal House».
«I regret that the princess no longer represents the Royal House (…) but that’s the way things are,» said King Harald V in a meeting with the main Norwegian news agency NTB and the Nordic country’s radio and television NRK.
Although the monarch acknowledged that he enjoys a good relationship with Verrett, he regretted that his daughter’s fiancé at some point thought he could use the royal title of Marta Luisa for commercial purposes.
«It’s clear that Americans don’t understand the meaning of this. They have no idea what a Royal House is, so it’s not surprising that he didn’t understand,» added Harald V, who regretted that Verrett «probably thought he could do anything without it affecting us.»
Marta Luisa and Verrett announced their engagement in early June. The figure of the shaman soon aroused controversy for his activities and statements.
Verrett even offered for sale for more than 2,000 Norwegian kroner (about 195 euros) a medallion that, according to him, had helped him overcome the coronavirus.
