Divorced Norwegian princess criticized for dating LA-based black medicine man

47-year-old Princess Märtha Louise of Norway has found love as she dates 44-year-old L.A.-based celebrity shaman Shaman Durek who has worked as a spiritual healer for Hollywood stars including Gwyneth Paltrow and Selma Blair.

Princess Märtha, the fourth in line to the throne, mother of three girls and daughter of King Harald V and Queen Sonja announced her new relationship with Shaman Durek – whose real name is Derek Verrett – on Instagram.

“When you meet your twin flame, you know. I have been lucky enough to have met mine. @shamandurek has changed my life, like he does with so many. He has made me realize that unconditional love actually exists here on this planet. He embraces all of me without question or fear. He makes me laugh more than anyone, has the most profound wisdom to share and all the bits in between from the diversity of his being.

“I feel so happy and blessed that he is my boyfriend. Thank you my love, for including me so generously into your family. I love you from this eternity to the next…” she posted after receiving a barrage of criticism calling him a “conman” and her a “disgrace to the crown” for dating a shaman.

Princess Märtha who has not been in a relationship since her divorce from Norwegian author Ari Behn in 2016 after 14 years of marriage had a reply for critics of her new relationship who do not believe in Shaman Durek’s non-medicinal healing methods.

“And to those of you who feel the need to criticize: Hold your horses. It is not up to you to choose for me or to judge me. I don’t choose my man to satisfy any of you or the norms or boxes you have chosen in your mind for me to be in. I don’t thrive there, nor do I exist in your illusion about me. I choose from love. And that’s it. Shaman Durek is merely a man I love spending my time with and who fulfills me. So thank you for respecting my actions and my choice of partner. All I know at this moment is that we love each other and I am super happy,” she added to her post.

Shaman Durek was born in Sacramento to an African-Haitian father and an Indian-Norwegian mother whom he claims he got his shamanic abilities from as a baby. According to his profile on his website, he started training as a Shaman from age 11 and he has since gained a celebrity status as he appears on various TV shows and has high-profiled clients including his new girlfriend Princess Märtha.

He also backed the princess’s fight against critics by writing a post about his love for her on his Instagram page. “There is a grace and beauty about life when you fall in love. Something softens in you that’s unspeakable, however felt in the very depth of your soul. Then your eyes see more clearly yourself and everyone else with the same reflection the heart feels. To be loved or not to be loved for I’d rather be loved unconditionally then not to be loved at all. This is what I feel from @princessmarthalouise, pure acceptance of my multidimensional self.”

Shaman Durek arrived in Oslo on Tuesday with his two nieces and they received by the princess who is hosting them ahead of their five-city tour of Denmark and Norway where they are holding two healing events named The Princess and the Shaman and Activating Divinity, reports Daily Mail.

On Tuesday, King Harald – Princess Märtha’s father – told the media after a question that he looks forward to meeting Shaman Durek and he was happy his daughter found love again, reports Yahoo Entertainment.