Princess Martha Louise (Norway)

[Auroranorth]

Her daughters seem to be pretty normal and not into their mom's weirdness or her fiance's creepiness. Hopefully they'll do OK.

[boxofrocks]

Princess Martha Louise and American shaman Durek Verrett will marry on August 31.

Her fiancé Durek adds: "I love HELLO! and HOLA! and I really appreciate being in the magazines. I've been reading articles [in the magazine] and feel that they really understand me and Martha. Other publications turn me into something I am not, but HELLO! and HOLA! really represent who I am and I'm grateful for that."

Cringe.

the festivities will kick off on the preceding Thursday with the first of two pre-wedding events – a meet-and-greet party, with a "sexy and cool" dress code

Double cringe. "Sexy and cool" dress code would make me wince for a normal person wedding.

Because Martha Louise and Verrett have sold the rights to their wedding to Hello/Hola, other members of the royal family will not allow themselves to be photographed because it denies other journalists fair access.

In 1991, Verrett was convicted of felony arson and trespassing and sentenced to five years imprisonment in California after he illegally organised a party in an unoccupied house that was set on fire and burned to the ground. In 1993, after he was released from prison, Verrett was arrested on three separate occasions and charged with crimes including trespassing, theft of services and fare evasion. He has also had charges of domestic abuse levelled against him.

WTF? I just thought he was a swindler.

[featherhat]

Well they aren’t even pretending not to love the fawning of the Hello! group, as opposed to the Norwegian media who print stories about them using her title for commercial purposes (which she agreed not to) and Durek selling amulets that can cure cancer and covid. ML lost her royal patronages because the charities felt they could not condone what she was actively co-signing.

He’s more than just a swindler a lot of what he promotes is actively dangerous medical advice as well as pure misogyny – telling women that past lovers have left “imprints” in their genitals that he can get rid of for example. That’s aside from being in prison etc.
They’re also trying to sell their own wedding gin complete with a made up co-monogram.

Since Durek has said that in a past life they were Pharoh and Queen together as well as Warrior rulers of Norway (not making this up), no doubt that is how he will wish to be styled after the wedding.

It should come as no surprise to this board that Gwyneth was once a devotee of this guy.

[Ladybug]

In the words of Marie Kondo, "I love mess."

[Auroranorth]

Well, I suppose it's Norway's turn for its royal family to bring the scandals. Not surprising that other royals are sitting this wedding out. I'm only surprised the Sussexes aren't invited, it sounds right up their alley.

[boxofrocks]

Victoria/Daniel and Carl Philip/Sofia of Sweden are confirmed to attend. No other royals were mentioned in that article.

This makes me wonder if the patron saint of this board, Marie-Chantal, and Pavlos will go.

Side note: How in the world are Americans snagging European royalty?

[featherhat]

Aug 28, 2024 17:52:45 GMT -4 boxofrocks said:

Victoria/Daniel and Carl Philip/Sofia of Sweden are confirmed to attend. No other royals were mentioned in that article.

This makes me wonder if the patron saint of this board, Marie-Chantal, and Pavlos will go.

Side note: How in the world are Americans snagging European royalty?

The Danes put out a vague statement about "official attendance is not required as if it was an heir" which might be an explanation of why no one showed or why some of them are going "in a private capacity".

As far as some Americans marrying into royalty? Well both high profile examples apparently met through friends (both ML and Durek moved in Goopy circles). Peter Phillips met Canadian Autumn at a Grand Prix where she had clients I believe. Katie Walker who married into the non reigning Hapsburgs (though his uncle is the reigning Grand Duke of Luxemburg) met "Arch Duke" Imrie by openly planning to meet him when he attended a Trad Catholic event in the US that she was also attending and being exactly the same brand of crazy as him. They put out a statement talking about both being virgins and promising never to use birth control before their wedding among other things. His parents seemed a bit snobby about her though.

[boxofrocks]

Aug 29, 2024 4:21:01 GMT -4 featherhat said:

As far as some Americans marrying into royalty? Well both high profile examples apparently met through friends (both ML and Durek moved in Goopy circles). Peter Phillips met Canadian Autumn at a Grand Prix where she had clients I believe. Katie Walker who married into the non reigning Hapsburgs (though his uncle is the reigning Grand Duke of Luxemburg) met "Arch Duke" Imrie by openly planning to meet him when he attended a Trad Catholic event in the US that she was also attending and being exactly the same brand of crazy as him. They put out a statement talking about both being virgins and promising never to use birth control before their wedding among other things. His parents seemed a bit snobby about her though.

Thanks. I didn't know about the Habsburg marriage or how Phillips and Autumn Kelly met. Phillips and Kelly seem to have the most normal circumstances around their initial meeting. As for Meghan/Harry, Martha Louise/Durek Verrett, and Kathleen Walker/Imre, it seems like something about the royal half of those pairs made them receptive (or vulnerable, depending on how you look at it) for what the commoner had to offer. For Meghan/Harry, it seemed to be Harry's dissatisfaction with his station in life. For Martha Louise/Verrett and Walker/Imre, it was their spiritual beliefs.

[Ladybug]

Wow. Just wow. You have to see these matching pink outfits.

Exclusive: Princess Martha Louise and Durek Verrett host pre-wedding party with 'sexy and cool' theme

Märtha Louise, 52, exuded bridal radiance in a coordinating pink look alongside her husband-to-be, with matching jewelled necklaces adorning their necks. The striking dress, which hailed from Märtha Louise's brand Hest, boasted a halterneck design and an asymmetric train.

Not to be outdone, 49-year-old Durek cut a dashing figure in bubblegum pink trousers and a matching suit jacket, perfectly complementing his bride-to-be's ensemble.

"They're one of a kind," Durek told HELLO! of the stylish bespoke outfits. And as the couple posed for our exclusive photos before joining their guests, Martha Louise said, "Love conquers all," reflecting on her pending marriage to Durek - symbolized by the heart-shaped buckles on her dress.

[americanchai]

Royals rarely go to second weddings of any of their more distant kin, if ever. The Swedes are very close to the Norwegians so I'm not surprised that some of them are attending. At the very least, we will see every last detail of this since HELLO! has paid for it.

TBF to her, her first husband was also a bit eccentric. I do wonder how his con-man tendencies will rear their ugly head though once he's officially in the family. At least her kids are grown enough to not have to be stuck under his influence.

"Sexy and cool" really doesn't describe either of them. How embarrassing.