Princess and her husband launch $114m lawsuit against former friends accused of ‘sabotaging their reputation’
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and her husband have launched a $US80 million (approx. $114 million) lawsuit against former friends and colleagues, accusing them of conducting a years-long smear campaign.
They claim the group wanted to “sabotage ... their reputation” through a “long-running campaign of false claims [and] misuse of confidential information”.
Noway’s Princess Märtha Louise and Shaman Durek Verrett claim they were subjected to a smear campaign by those who once had unique access to the couple. Stian Lysberg Solum/NTB Scanpix via AP
Princess Märtha Louise, 55, is the elder sister of Norway’s new King Haakon VIII, who ascended the throne on August 28 following the death of their father, the late King Harald V.
She married American-born Durek Verrett in 2024, a self-professed shaman and healer.
Their union has not been without controversy and in 2025, they starred in the Netflix documentary Rebel Royals, renewing calls for the princess to be stripped of her titles.
Despite not having a formal royal role since November 2022, Princess Märtha Louise’s commercial endeavours have seen her earn the wrath of the royal house and public.
However, she and Verrett remain central figures in Norway’s royal family.
Most recently, they attended the funeral of King Harald on September 9, with dozens of other royals and heads of state from around the world. Soon after, they were guests at the funeral of Princess Astrid, who died two weeks after her brother, Harald.
Princess Märtha Louise and Shaman Durek’s legal action was filed on September 14 in California, the week after King Harald’s funeral and during the Royal House’s official mourning period which comes to an end on Friday.
The lawsuit was taken against four of Verrett’s former close associates and 10 others whose identities are unknown but who the couple believes have distributed defamatory content about them on social media and online.
Some of the allegations were timed to coincide with the release of the Netflix documentary Rebel Royals to guarantee maximum exposure, the lawsuit claims. Courtesy of Netflix
They are seeking $US80 million or $768 million Norwegian krone (approx. $114 million Australian dollars).
It was taken out on behalf of the princess, her husband and his company, Ohana Productions LLC.
The lawsuit is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles on December 17, reports TV 2.
“Our clients − Princess Märtha Louise, Durek Verrett and Ohana Productions LLC − have filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles against individuals who participated in a long-running campaign of false claims, breach of contract, misuse of confidential information and sabotage of their reputation,” a joint statement from the law firms The Roth Law Firm, PLLC and JC Law, PC said.
Attorneys Jamie Campbell and Richard A. Roth said those who are being sued once had unique access to the couple.
“Confidential communications were allegedly weaponised,” the statement said.
“Serious allegations were made despite contradictory evidence, prior legal warnings, and in some cases signed non-disclosure agreements.
Märtha Louise and Verrett were most recently seen in public at the funeral of Princess Astrid on September 23. Rune Hellestad/Getty Images
“The same narratives were then pushed out on social media, on anonymous online platforms, and in media outlets until repetition began to resemble confirmation. There is no confirmation. Repetition does not make an allegation a fact.
“Our clients have had their reputations put before the people’s court for years. Now the facts will be tested in a court of law.”
The 88-page lawsuit, seen by TV 2, describes a smear campaign throughout 2025-26.
“During this period, the plaintiffs experienced significant health and personal circumstances, including Verrett’s severe kidney failure, dialysis treatment, health deterioration and recent kidney transplant, as well as Princess Märtha Louise’s recent loss of her father,” it says.
The couple married in Geiranger in August 2024. Their wedding featured in the Rebel Royals documentary. Getty
Verrett, 51, had a kidney transplant in August inside the same hospital where his father-in-law, King Harald V, was being treated before his death.
The shaman had been suffering kidney disease for many years and had been undergoing regular dialysis treatments both in Norway and in Beverly Hills. It was the second time Verrett had received a kidney transplant.
The legal action also mentions the debate around Princess Märtha Louise’s royal title.
“The attacks have repeatedly used her status as a princess, her marriage and her relationship with Verrett as vehicles to cast doubt on her judgment and independence,” it says.
“She has repeatedly been portrayed as someone who has been manipulated, controlled or deceived, or who is incapable of exercising independent judgment regarding her own husband.
King Haakon VIII and his daughter Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra at the opening of the Storting (Norway’s parliament) on October 2. The Royal House’s official mourning period will end this week. Rune Hellestad/Getty Images
“Such a portrayal damages her not only as a spouse, but also as a public figure, entrepreneur, author, speaker, businesswoman, and princess − roles where professional opportunities depend largely on the public’s trust in her credibility and judgment.”
Some of the accusations were timed to coincide with the release of Rebel Royals to guarantee maximum exposure, the lawsuit claims.
The Royal House of Norway has not commented on the lawsuit.
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