Netflix on Thursday released the first trailer for a documentary about the relationship between Princess Martha Louise of Norway and her husband, American spiritual teacher Durek Verrett, saying the film will take an “intimate look” at their romance ahead of a September release.
In the trailer, Verrett — who is often described in media coverage as a self-styled shaman — says he once thought he would “end up with a man or alien,” comments that are among the candid moments highlighted by Netflix as it previews the couple’s story. The film, titled Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story, follows the pair as they prepare for their wedding and confront public scrutiny.
The documentary charts a relationship that the notes accompanying the trailer say began after the couple were introduced by friends in 2019 and that the pair have at times described as rooted in prior lives, including claims of a connection in ancient Egypt. It documents the lead-up to a wedding held in Geiranger, Norway, last year and the media attention and controversy that have accompanied the couple’s public life.
Verrett, 50, speaks in the trailer about the early stages of the couple’s relationship, saying Princess Martha Louise “fell in love with me first” and that he felt “apprehensive” before committing to marriage. Media coverage of Verrett has noted previous relationships and public statements; he was publicly engaged to a masseur, Hank Greenberg, and was in a relationship with him for eight years beginning in 2007.
The film’s promotional material indicates it will cover the couple’s navigation of criticism and scrutiny as members of the public and press responded to Verrett’s spiritual practices and public persona. The documentary arrives amid renewed international interest in royal families and in media portrayals of unconventional relationships involving public figures.
Princess Martha Louise is the eldest daughter of Norway’s King. The Netflix project represents a rare international documentary focusing on a contemporary Norwegian royal and a partner whose public identity has been defined largely outside traditional royal circles.
Netflix has not released a specific premiere date beyond indicating the series will arrive in September. Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story is presented as a close, character-driven portrait of the couple as they balance private life and public attention.