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Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and her fiancé Shaman Durek have said ‘people don’t want to see a black man join a royal family in Europe’ – after revealing they’ve received ‘death threats and hate’.
The couple, who announced their engagement on Tuesday, addressed the backlash they’ve received throughout their relationship and admitted it had been an ‘eye-opener’ and a ‘learning curve’ for Martha-Louise, 50.
Speaking in an Instagram Live this week, Durek Verret, 47, a Los Angeles-based ‘spiritual guide and gifted healer’ whose celebrity following includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Nina Dobrev and James Van Der Beek, said people ‘don’t want to see a black man in the royal family’ because it’s ‘never been done’.
In a reference to Netflix’s popular period drama romance Bridgerton, which features several interracial couples, Durek said people liked to watch these royal relationships on TV, but did want to see the ‘real Bridgertons’.
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, 50, and her fiancé Shaman Durek, 47, said people don’t want to see a ‘black man being a member of a royal family in Europe’ during an Instagram Live
The couple, who announced their engagement on Tuesday, pictured, said people like to watch royal interracial relationships on TV like in Netflix’s Bridgerton, but they don’t like to watch real interracial relationships
Durek said people don’t want to watch ‘the real Bridgerton’. Pictured, Actors Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page in Bridgerton
Durek said he thinks there are two reasons behind the death threats the couple claim to have received.
‘One, they don’t want to see a black man in the royal family because there’s never been one in the history of histories in the European royal family so that’s a huge thing,’ he said.
He went on to say that while a prince would be able to marry a woman of colour, the fact that Märtha Louise was female meant there was more scrutiny around her choice of partner.
‘Second, Märtha is a female. It’s different when a man chooses a woman of colour because he’s a man… but for a princess to choose a man of colour, it has never been done in history so it’s really tough for people to handle that,’ he said.
Speaking of Bridgerton, he added: ‘They don’t want the Bridgertons, they want to watch it on TV but they don’t want the real Bridgertons, which is us.
‘So they get very upset and angry and say really mean things, but they don’t understand that our world can’t stay the same, we have to evolve,’ he added.
Märtha Louise, pictured with Durek on Friday in West Hollywood, admitted that the experience has been an ‘eye-opener’ for her and that it was a ‘learning curve’
The princess and her American spiritual guru boyfriend pictured with Gwyneth Paltrow
Märtha Louise admitted that the experience had been an ‘eye-opener’ for her.
‘I had a big learning curve coming from white privilege. I was so naïve I didn’t see the nuances, and I think a lot of white people are,’ she said.
‘The small nuances are the worst, when people pull away from you [Durek], or they don’t want to sit next to you on the bus or cross the street to not walk towards you and of course all the remarks that are all the time,’ she explained.
She went on to give more examples of the different ways in which people treated her and Durek.
‘I’ve seen people talking to me really nicely then turning around to Durek and being really horrible, like not touching his hand or not saying hello or saying horrible things to him from being totally nice with me,’ she said.
The royal said it made her realise: ‘wow this is so much worse than I thought it was,’ and added she is ‘shocked that it’s still going on in the world.’
The couple revealed three diamonds on either side of the royal’s engagement ring represent Princess Märtha’s three daughters from her first marriage (left and right)
In March, Märtha Louise shared the first snap of her three children alongside her partner Shaman Durek (pictured)
‘We think there’s no racism because we don’t have it in our lives, we’re white,’ she said. ‘We need to understand that even though we don’t see racism, it does exist.’
The couple discussed their relationship at length in the Instagram Live as well as in an interview with the magazine People.
Märtha Louise admitted she was ‘shocked’ by the proposal, which happened in California, and they were both in floods of tears during the poignant moment.
Meanwhile the couple revealed three diamonds on either side of the ring represent Princess Märtha’s three daughters from her first marriage to Ari Behn. They split in 2016, and Ari took his own life on Christmas Day in 2019.
The ring also features a 3.5 carat ethically sourced Brazlian emerald, which is surrounded by diamonds, including four trillion-cut stones to represent earth, air, water and fire.
In a statement issued by the royal household, Harald and his wife Queen Sonja announced the engagement and said they ‘wish them all the best for the future’
Shaman Durek revealed earlier this year that he ‘asked King Harald’ of Norway for Märtha Louise’s hand in marriage
Meanwhile the shape represents a protective emblem, while the couple’s union is represented in the infinity detailing on the side and an engraved love knot.
Durek explained: ‘I did historical research on all the royal engagement rings, and then I went and observed other rings at stores to give me some ideas for the cut and design.’
Meanwhile he said he wanted to include a nod to her three daughters, as well as her mother Queen Sonja, whose favourite jewel is an emerald.
After working on the jewel for half a year, Durek explained how he showed the ring to his friend Gwyneth Paltrow because se is ‘very particular’ about things.
He added: ‘She said it was the most fantastic ring she’s seen and loved how much thought and care I put into it and knew that Princess Märtha would love and cherish it — having a stamp of approval from a friend such as her made me happy.’
Princess Martha said: ‘Having my three daughters represented in my engagement ring meant the world to me.
The princess previously revealed she plans to move to California to be near her celebrity shaman boyfriend. Pictured, the couple in an Instagram snap
‘It shows that I’ve chosen the right man — a man that understands how much my kids mean to me and that my children will always be included in our relationship.’
Durek went on to share several images of the ring on his Instagram page, thanking the jeweller for helping him craft the piece.
According to Norwegian media, the princess, whose older brother, Crown Prince Haakon, is the heir to the throne, plans to relocate to California with her girls.
Writing on Instagram to reveal her engagement, Märtha Louise said: ‘I am so happy to announce that I am engaged to Shaman Durek.
‘The one who makes my heart skip, the one who sees me and acknowledges me from my highest potential, 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 princess was previously married to Ari Behn (pictured together in 2015), who she wed in 2002 and had three children with: Maud Angelica, 17, Leah Isadora, 15, and Emma Tallulah, 12. They split in 2016, and Ari took his own life on Christmas Day in 2019
‘Thank you to all my friends and family who have stood steadfast by our side and special thanks to @hegecfossum and @stargatemusic for your generosity and making our day truly special.’
Alongside her royal duties, the princess has written books in which she claimed having contacts with angels.
In March, the princess shared the first snap of her three children alongside her partner Shaman Durek.
In the photograph, which the mother-of-three shared to her Instagram page to mark International Woman’s Day, Durek can be seen posing with the royal and her three children.
The group appeared to be visiting Durek’s hometown of LA, where Märtha Louise has spoken of moving her family to in recent years.
The Shaman was quick to share a gushing comment on the post, writing: ‘I love our family. You my dear are a force in life. The way you love your children and how you nurture their minds and heart to grow.’
