The palace said on Tuesday (8), Princess Martha Louise of Norway, engaged to a self-proclaimed shaman, resigned from her official duties in order to devote herself to her work on alternative therapies (8).

The 51-year-old princess’s relationship with Hollywood’s popular spiritual guru, Durek Verrett, sparked a backlash in Norway when the man, a “sixth-generation shaman,” suggested in his book “Spirit Hacking” that cancer was an option.

Verrett also sells a coin called “Spirit Optimizer” on his website. According to him, the work helped him beat covid-19.

“Princess […] relinquishing his royal role […] and will no longer represent the Royal House.”

However, “according to the king’s wishes, she will retain the title of princess”.

With this, “it is intended to draw a dividing line that more clearly separates the (princess’s) business activity from that of the Royal House of Norway”, explains the statement.

The palace reported that Verret would become a member of the royal family when he married Martha Louise. It will have no title and will not represent the monarchy.

A survey in September showed that 17% of Norwegians had a lower opinion of the now generally popular royal family, with almost all those who changed their minds talking about the princess and the shaman.

Claiming to be able to speak to angels, Martha Louise renounced the title of “Her Royal Highness” in 2002 and vowed in 2019 not to use her princess status for commercial purposes.

The couple agreed to waive any relationship with the royal family over their social media, media content and business activities.

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© Agence France-Press