Princess Martha-Louise’s family to avoid photos at wedding due to Netflix deal

Princess Martha-Louise’s family is set to avoid being photographed or filmed at her wedding to Durek Verrett due to their controversial Netflix deal.

The 51-year-old European royal will tie the knot with the celebrity shaman next weekend in Geiranger Fjord, western Norway.

The couple, who met through friends in 2019, have claimed to have known each other in a past life, specifically from ancient Egypt.

Prior to their nuptials, Martha-Louise and Verrett have secured exclusive coverage deals with Netflix and Hello! magazine, causing discontent among Norwegian media outlets.

In Norway, as in the UK with the BBC, it is typically expected that national broadcasters, such as the Norwegian Broadcasting Company (NRK) and the Norwegian News Agency (NTB), cover royal events.

Speaking to NRK, Reidun Kjelling Nybø from the Norwegian Editors’ Association expressed disappointment, noting the departure from a longstanding tradition of allowing national media to document major royal events.

Norwegian media has been informed they will have limited access to the wedding and will not be able to document it. Consequently, the Royal House of Norway’s head of communications, Guri Varpe, stated that members of the Royal Family will avoid being photographed or filmed by Netflix and Hello!.

Norwegian media will only see Martha-Louise and Durek when they greet royal fans post-wedding, and any official family photos will be released at Hello’s discretion.

NTB news editor highlighted the significance of this restriction, emphasizing that they have covered all major public events related to the Norwegian royal house since 1905.

Princess Martha-Louise’s first wedding in 2002 followed the Royal Family’s media protocol.

However, in November 2022, Martha-Louise relinquished her royal role, a move likened to “Norway’s Megxit”.

Peter Phillips similarly caused a stir in 2008 by selling his wedding photo rights to Hello! magazine for £500,000, which Buckingham Palace labeled a ‘serious error of judgment’, leading to a ban on such deals.

Martha-Louise’s relationship with Verrett, known for controversial views, including pseudoscientific claims about cancer in children, has drawn significant attention.

The couple, who got engaged in June 2022, addressed their critics in a video on Durek’s Instagram, highlighting challenges related to race and gender perceptions in the royal context.

In an interview with the BBC earlier this year, Martha-Louise praised her parents, King Harald and Queen Sonja, for their support and open dialogue about her decision to step away from royal duties.

Comparing her decision to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s departure from senior royal roles, she emphasized her desire to ‘earn my own money’ by giving up state funds and paying taxes for the first time.

Despite relinquishing her royal role, Martha-Louise continues to face intense scrutiny, particularly regarding new roles she undertakes.

The Princess noted that anything she does outside of traditional expectations continues to attract press attention.

In a Swedish TV interview in March, she claimed to be the most criticized person in Norway for her spiritual beliefs, stating that such beliefs are ‘taboo’ in her country.

The conversation also touched on her ex-husband Ari Behn, who took his own life in December 2019, and how media criticism affected his mental health.

In June 2022, Martha-Louise and Durek addressed online trolling on Instagram, with Verrett discussing the challenges of being a black man entering the European royal family.

He noted that societal perceptions differ when a princess, rather than a prince, chooses a partner of color, highlighting unprecedented aspects of their relationship in royal history.

Source: Norwegian Editors’ Association, NRK, NTB