Princess Märtha Louise of Norway reveals why she has DROPPED her royal title

Princess Märtha Louise of Norway has dropped her royal title for certain engagements following a spiritual tour with her shaman boyfriend.

The mother-of-three, who is the eldest child of King Harald and Queen Sonja, will now only use her hereditary title when representing the Norwegian royal family on official duty.

The decision comes after criticism was aimed at Märtha Louise for calling her spiritual speaking tour with Shaman Durek, 44, (real name Derek Verrett) ‘The Princess and the Shaman’.

She was accused of exploiting her hereditary status for commercial gain and apologised, admitting it was a ‘mistake’. 

Märtha Louise, who divorced her husband Ari Behn in 2017, made the revelation on an Instagram post, writing: ‘There have been many discussions about my use of title in a commercial context lately. 

‘The fact that I used Princess in the title of my tour, I have said before that I am very sorry, and I still stand by that. It was a mistake and I understand that it provokes when the princess title is used this way.

‘The discussions are something I have taken seriously, and in collaboration with my family we have found that it is best that we make some changes. 

‘We have therefore jointly come to the conclusion that I use the title princess when I represent the Royal House, do my official assignments at home and abroad, and in private contexts. 

Märtha Louise, pictured with boyfriend Shaman Durek and Gwyneth Paltrow, revealed her decision on an Instagram post

The princess said she believes this is a good solution to make a ‘clear distinction between my business activities and my role as representative of the Royal House’

‘From now on I will not use my princess title in a commercial context. That is, in all commercial contexts, I only use Märtha Louise.

‘I find this to be a good solution where there is a clear distinction between my business activities and my role as representative of the Royal House, and that I have thus created room for greater freedom in my business activities.’ 

Märtha Louise has now launched a separate Instagram account without her title – martha.louise.intuitive, which currently has 6,366 followers.

From now on Märtha Louise, pictured with Sophie Wessex in May 2017, will not use her princess title in a commercial context

Märtha Louise and ex-husband Ari Behn, pictured together, announced their separation in September 2016 and released a statement saying they felt ‘ashamed because we can no longer create the common safe harbour for our children’

Her first post was a picture of her with a horse, captioned: ‘This is my new page for my work related projects where I use my name without my title. I am simply Märtha Louise. Let’s explore life and go on adventures together.’

On the page she invites fans to join her upcoming webinar, entitled ‘Life, Love, and Change with Shaman Durek and Märtha Louise’. 

Märtha Louise, who hosted the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during their trip to Norway in February last year, is known for taking a down-to-earth approach to royal life and posting refreshingly honest Instagram pictures.

The royal couple married in Trondheim on May 24 in 2002, but officially divorced in 2017

Märtha Louise hosted the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during their trip to Norway in February last year

The royal has three daughters – Maud, Leah and Emma – with author Ari Behn.

The couple announced their separation in September 2016 and released a statement saying they felt ‘ashamed because we can no longer create the common safe harbour for our children’.

Their divorce was finalised in 2017 and was the first in the modern history of the Norwegian royal family.

Due to Norway’s rules of succession favouring sons, Princess Märtha Louise is fourth-in-line to the throne after her younger brother Prince Haakon, 45, and his two children, Prince Sverre Magnus, 13, and Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 15.

Märtha Louise and Ari have three daughters, Maud, 16, Leah, 14, and Emma, 10. Pictured with their children during a celebration in 2013

It leaves the divorcée free to pursue her own career, which includes running an entertainment company and charitable foundation.

Princess Märtha Louise has long been known to have an interest in spiritual practises and last year travelled to India for a retreat with friends.

In 2007 there were calls for her to renounce her royal title after she announced plans to open a school that would train people to communicate with the angelic realm.

She went public with her relationship with Shaman Durek, a spiritual healer to the stars whose best friend is Gwyneth Paltrow, in May this year.

Märtha Louise is known for taking a down-to-earth approach to royal life and posting refreshingly honest Instagram pictures. Pictured with her new beau, Durek

Shaman Durek, real name Durek Verrett, is believed to be based in Los Angeles. Pictured, the couple in a photo shared online in May 

Sources previously told DailyMail.com they are ‘madly in love’, and that they initially met when the royal was one of Durek’s clients. 

Durek works with clients from all walks of life, including Hollywood celebrities and insiders, musicians and reality TV stars, professionals and European royalty.

He’s dubbed Gwyneth his ‘soul sister’ and her husband Brad Falchuk his ‘spirit brother’ and has been interviewed for Goop on subjects like getting rid of negative energy. 

Märtha Louise has now launched a separate Instagram account without her title – martha.louise.intuitive, which currently has 6,366 followers. Pictured: her first post

Writing on Instagram about her new love, the princess penned: ‘Durek has changed my life, like he does with so many’ Pictured, the couple together

Durek, who was born in Sacramento, claims he first became ‘aware’ of his shamanic abilities when he was five but that he didn’t start training until age 11 and that he is a ‘sixth generation healer’.

His mother, who he says was who exposed him to the spirit built when he was a baby, was Norweigan-Indian and his father was African-Haitian.

Durek, who on social media says he is romantically interested in both men and women, claims she predicted his romance with the divorcee royal.

He believes he can reduce ageing by using his power to ‘access the atoms’ inside the human body.