Little unsettles the five million hardy subjects of King Harald V of Norway, but on June 7 a surprise proclamation from the Royal Palace in Oslo brought the country to a near standstill. His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen send their most heartfelt congratulations to Princess Martha Louise and Mr Durek Verrett on the occasion of their engagement,” it read, and wish them all the best for the future.”
Martha Louise, the King’s only daughter, is fourth in line to the throne. Her husband-to-be is a self-taught shaman to the stars” from California, who says he previously lived as a pharaoh in ancient Egypt, claims to be able to split atoms with his mind power, and for 2000 an hour promises to lead his clients down the spiritual superhighway to happiness.
Certainly, Martha Louise, 51, a fourth cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, sounded happy. I am so pleased,” she declared, to announce that I’m engaged to Shaman Durek, the one who makes my heart skip, the one who makes me laugh and who I can be vulnerable with. Love transcends and makes us grow. And I am so happy to continue to grow with this beautiful man.”
The level-headed Norwegians, who have watched the romance unfold with growing scepticism, appeared less thrilled. Royal observers and politicians denounced Durek, 47, as a charlatan” and conman”, while the country’s leading newspaper, Morgenbladet, described his claims of mystical power as the ravings of a lunatic”. Given early indications from within the traditionalist court that 85-year-old Harald was out to prevent a marriage, the royal announcement came as a shock.
This story is from the XMAS 2022 edition of The Australian Women's Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the XMAS 2022 edition of The Australian Women's Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Maggie's kitchen
Maggie Beer's delicious veg patties - perfect for lunch, dinner or a snack - plus a simple nostalgic pudding with fresh passionfruit.
Reclaim your brain
Attention span short? Thoughts foggy? Memory full of gaps? Brigid Moss investigates the latest ways to sharpen your thinking.
The girls from Oz
Melbourne music teacher Judith Curphey challenged the patriarchy when she started Australia's first all-girls choir. Forty years later that bold vision has 6500 members, life-changing programs and a new branch of the sisterhood in Singapore.
One kid can change the world
In 2018, 10-year-old Jack Berne started A Fiver for a Farmer to raise funds for drought relief. He and mum Prue share what happened next.
AFTER THE WAVE
Twenty years ago, the Boxing Day tsunami tore across the Indian Ocean, shredding towns, villages and holiday resorts, and killing hundreds of thousands of people from Indonesia to Africa. Three Australians share their memories of terror, loss and survival with The Weekly.
PATRICIA KARVELAS How childhood tragedy shaped me
Patricia Karvelas hustled hard to chase her dreams, but it wasn't easy. In a deeply personal interview, the ABC host talks about family loss, finding love, battles fought and motherhood.
Ripe for the picking
Buy a kilo or two of fresh Australian apricots because they're at their peak sweetness now and take inspiration from our lush recipe ideas that showcase this divine stone fruit.
Your stars for 2025
The Weekly’s astrologer, Lilith Rocha, reveals what’s in store for your astrological sign in 2025. For your monthly horoscope, turn to page 192.
MEL SCHILLING Cancer made me look at myself differently'
One year on from going public with her bowel cancer diagnosis, Mel Schilling reveals where she's at with her health journey and how it's changed her irrevocably.
Nothing like this Dame Judi
A few weeks before her 90th birthday, the acting legend jumped on a phone call with The Weekly to talk about her extraordinary life – and what’s still to come.