Senior members of Norway’s Royal Family partied into the early hours of this morning as they celebrated Princess Martha Louise’s controversial marriage to American shaman Durek Verrett.
King Harald, 87 years old and in fragile health, did not return to his royal yacht, anchored off the coast of the Geiranger Fjord, until after 1 a.m.
Queen Sonja, who is also 87, told reporters waiting on the quayside that she had enjoyed the gala dinner.
The heir apparent, Crown Prince Haakon, his wife Princess Mette-Marit, and their children Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, stayed until the end and left the party at 3 a.m.
They were pictured waving to reporters as they made their way to the royal yacht, which has been protected by a Norwegian Navy vessel. Princess Mette-Marit said: “There were many highlights (at the wedding).
Members of the Norwegian royal family celebrated the controversial marriage of Princess Martha Louise to American shaman Durek Verrett until the early hours of the morning. Pictured: Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit react after the wedding of Princess Martha Louise and Durek Verrett in Geiranger
Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon gave speeches at the wedding banquet, but not King Harald, who had given the speech at his daughter’s first wedding to writer Ari Behn in 2002.
The four-day wedding celebrations will conclude today with a sumptuous brunch until 1 p.m.
Guests will then be transported by bus and ferry to Ålesund Airport, approximately two and a half hours away.
The bride and groom are expected to join the King and Queen aboard the royal yacht and sail along the spectacular Geirangerfjord to Ålesund.
The newlywed couple delighted the crowds lining the streets outside their wedding venue last night by sharing a kiss before the gala dinner.
Social media influencers, reality stars and TV personalities were among the guests when the Norwegian king’s eldest daughter married the self-proclaimed American shaman.
Martha Louise, 52, and Durek Verrett, 49, who says he is a sixth-generation shaman from California, tied the knot in the picturesque village of Geiranger, one of Norway’s top tourist attractions, situated on a fjord with stunning views.
The newlyweds had taken an impromptu stroll to thank the few dozen people who had come to the small town by the fjord to pay their respects.
Princess Martha Louise of Norway and Sharman Durek Verrett greet the press and public after their wedding outside the Union Hotel in Gieranger
Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel walk outside the Union Hotel in Vinjevollen on the wedding day of Princess Martha Louise of Norway and Durek Verrett
Queen Sonja of Norway waves after the wedding of Norwegian Princess Martha Louise
Princess Martha Louise of Norway and Sharman Durek Verrett kiss and applaud outside the Union Hotel in Gieranger, Norway
Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Prince Sverre Magnus and Amalie Giaever Macleod after the wedding of Durek Verrett and Princess Märtha Louise
The couple left the Union Hotel in Geiranger shortly after 6:30 pm local time to loud applause from the crowd.
Families with small children, elderly residents and young couples had waited for hours to see the princess and her new husband.
The newlyweds beamed with pride as they waved to the crowds, before heading back to the hotel for the wedding breakfast and partying which lasted into the early hours of this morning.
The wedding festivities began on Thursday, but the actual wedding ceremony took place yesterday afternoon in a large white tent set up in a farm meadow overlooking a spectacular fjord.
Guests told media that the event featured performances by Norwegian and American artists along with a gospel choir and a singer representing Norway’s indigenous Sami people.
Norwegian TV presenter Harald Ronneberg told public broadcaster NRK: “It was fantastic! It was a mix of Hollywood and Geiranger. It was gospel and love. We laughed, we clapped and we were emotional. It was absolutely beautiful.”
Princess Martha Louise of Norway and her American fiancé Shaman Durek delighted crowds lining the streets by sharing a kiss after their wedding.
The couple shared a kiss in front of the press and spectators after the ceremony.
Princess Martha and her husband Durek greeted the crowd from a balcony
The couple sold the rights to the wedding photographs to British celebrity magazine Hello! and the film rights to Netflix.
The agreements have sparked protests from Norwegian media, which claim the deal goes against local practices.
The couple has often lashed out at the press while promoting themselves on social media.
