Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett Fight Back Tears Exchanging Vows

Märtha Louise of Norway and Durek Verrett were overwhelmed with emotion during their wedding ceremony last Saturday as they exchanged the personal vows they had written for each other.

The nuptials, exclusively covered by HELLO! magazine, saw Märtha Louise, 52, and Durek, 49, celebrate their love in a ceremony officiated by Märtha’s close friend, parish priest Margit Louise Holte.

His voice breaking with emotion, Durek promised, “I promise to always listen to your wisdom. I promise to always hold space for you and your daughters and listen to them as well. I promise to love you with my last breath.”

Fighting back tears, Märtha, mother to her daughters Maud, 21, Leah, 19, and Emma, 16, said, “I promise to love you with all my heart. I promise to take responsibility for my emotions. I promise to love you because I know you know that my girls come first.”

She continued, “And I promise I will walk with you to the best of my ability because we are always changed although we are always the same. Because we are always the past, the present and the future in one.”

After slipping their wedding rings on each other’s fingers and sharing a kiss, Norwegian stoicism gave way to smiles, applause, and tears of happiness.

“I had our wedding bands made in the old Viking way,” Durek told HELLO! of the rose-gold and diamond rings. “The runes engraved in the gold mean ‘love’s flame’ so when two flames come together we create love’s fire.”

The ceremony also included words of wisdom about love and marriage by Michael B Beckwith, Bible readings from Märtha’s brother Crown Prince Haakon and Durek’s sister Angelina Verrett-Byrne, and emotional hymns such as “Amazing Grace” and “Ave Maria.” Märtha and Durek walked back down the aisle to Stevie Wonder’s hit song “As,” sung by the gospel choir HIM, and delighted their guests by dancing to the uplifting beats.

The congregation, including the bride’s parents, King Harald and Queen Sonja, stood up to dance and clap along.

Some 350 guests traveled to western Norway to attend the high-profile wedding at the four-star Hotel Union on Saturday.

Festivities began on the preceding Thursday with a meet-and-greet party, followed by a boat ride and a Latin American-themed pre-wedding bash on Friday.

Source: HELLO!