Domestic abuse and lizard people: ‘Royal Rebels’ puts focus on Norway royal controversies

(CN) — The Norwegian royal family is in rocky waters. Most dire among their troubles are the many serious criminal charges facing the stepson of the man next in line to be king.

When the documentary “Royal Rebels: An Unlikely Love Story” premiered last month on Netflix, it did little to improve royal public-relations in the country. More reality TV than serious biopic, the film follows Norwegian Princess Märtha Louise and then-fiance Durek Verrett as they prepare for their 2024 wedding.

The couple had a controversial reputation even before the movie.

The only daughter of King Harald V, Märtha Louise says she can speak to the dead. She started a so-called “Angel School” in the capital of Oslo, aimed at sharing her paranormal expertise with others. She gave up royal duties in 2022, acknowledging that “my title entails a certain responsibility.”

Verrett, her California-born husband, is a self-described shaman. He purports to teach followers the art of “spirit hacking” through a “healing temple” and various “wokeshops.” He says he is a lizard person and the reincarnation of an Egyptian pharaoh. He claims he foresaw the 9/11 terror attacks.

In the film, which critics have panned as “shallow” and “grandstanding,” Verrett opens up about his struggles finding acceptance in the royal family while peddling conspiracies and unfounded remedies.

“Pretty much everything I did was wrong,” Verrett says at one point. “It wasn’t like, ‘Oh, welcome to our family, we love you, we get you.’ It was like, ‘Why are you with this guy?’”

One aspect of his account has particularly bothered some in the country. Verrett, who is Black, casts his troubles fitting in as ultimately being about race.

“Her father, her mother and her brother didn’t even know what racism was,” Verrett says in the movie. “It was difficult, because they looked at me like I was crazy when I said racism existed.”

Accusing the beloved king and queen of racial bias seems to have been a bridge too far for some Norwegians.

“The documentary has been heavily criticized, especially because Durek Verrett accuses the king and queen of being racist and not understanding racism,” Ole-Jørgen Schulsrud-Hansen, a historian, author and royal house commentator for Norwegian broadcaster TV2, explained in an interview.

Following the movie’s release, the Norwegian monarchy accused Märtha Louise of breaching an agreement not to use her title for commercial purposes.

A recent poll by public broadcaster NRK showed 71% support for taking away her royal title — but it’s unlikely that will happen. Asked about it last month at a World Wide Fund for Nature event in Oslo, King Harald said that stripping her title was “not a topic for now.”

Many see Verrett as throwing unfair punches at King Harald V.

Serving as Norway’s official figurehead since 1991, he’s bolstered support for the royalty by projecting an image of humble competence. Add to that the fact that per Norwegian custom, he can’t hit back — for example, by starring in his own Netflix series.

“That has made us rally around the king, because he can’t defend himself,” Schulsrud-Hansen said. “It’s a mutual understanding of how we should defend each other.”

Although the royal family’s popularity has taken a hit from “Royal Rebels,” observers say that in the long run, the film won’t harm the Norwegian monarchy and might even strengthen it.

That’s the view of Tove Taalesen, a journalist and royal expert with Norwegian paper Nettavisen who served in the royal court for more than a decade.

Taalesen makes an appearance in “Royal Rebels.” In it, she describes Verrett as “maybe a scam artist” but stresses the couple isn’t part of the monarchy and that the family has no control over them.

“I think the Norwegian perception in general is that we have a close yet pragmatic relationship with the monarchy,” Taalesen said in a phone interview. “King Harald and Queen Sonja are very trusted. Many see them as unifying figures, especially in times of crises.”

Taalesen says that popularity extends to the couple’s oldest child and heir apparent.

“I also believe that the Crown Prince Haakon is extremely popular, because he represents stability,” she said. “And, of course, because he is the future.” Still, she acknowledges that “the last one and a half years have been difficult for the royal household.” And unfortunately for the Norwegian monarchy, its other major scandal is a lot less amusing than the row around “Royal Rebels.”

Marius Borg Høiby became stepson of Crown Prince Haakon after Haakon married his mother Mette-Marit Høiby in 2001.

Since an arrest on drug charges in 2017, the now 28-year-old has been in more or less continuous legal trouble.

Last year, police raided Marius Høiby’s house. In August, he was charged with 32 counts, including rape and domestic violence. A trial is slated to begin next February. According to Norwegian newswire NTB, several celebrities will appear as witnesses for the prosecution.

Defenders of the royal family note that recent scandals have not come from central figures. Märtha Louise gave up her royal duties. Høiby is likewise not part of the line of succession, since he was already a child when his mother married into the family.

Even so, the scale of the alleged crimes has rattled those who support the monarchy. Høiby has been accused of raping at least four women and sexually exploiting others. Prosecutors say he beat a former romantic partner.

“This is an extraordinary situation, and it’s very serious charges he will have to stand in trial for,” Taalesen said. “And I believe that the monarchy, and especially for the Crown Prince Haakon and his wife Mette-Marit, this case will always follow them.”

Enough bad royal news could also have political implications. Since Norway became an independent country in 1905, a significant minority has lobbied to ditch the monarchy and become a republic.

Norwegian republicans — that is, Norwegians who want to do away with the monarchy — say the situation with Høiby is fueling support.

“We’ve had a huge increase in members in the organization,” said Craig Aaen-Stockdale, leader of the nonpolitical Norwegian Republican Organization. “Since last August, our membership has suddenly doubled — and we’ve existed for around 25 years.”

Aaen-Stockdale says the group now has 700 paying members and thousands of supporters. That’s in a country of fewer than 6 million.

“I do not have any problems with any one member of the royal family or any of their partners,” he said in an interview. “The problem is that a monarchy as a form of government is very dependent on individuals, and there’s a huge focus on how they behave. In our perspective, it’s very much like living in a gold cage.”

Don’t underestimate the resilience of the monarchy just yet. According to polling from public broadcaster NRK, just 18% of Norwegians want to do away with it. That’s not an insignificant number, but it’s far from a majority.

Over the years, support for the monarchy has ebbed and flowed in response to various events. That includes a dip in support when Haakon married Mette-Marit Høiby. At the time, she was widely seen as a rebel who hung out with scofflaws and drug dealers.

As her son’s trial begins, time will tell how the serious criminal charges affect her popularity or that of her family. Nonetheless, public support for the royals has already shown signs of bouncing back, climbing from 69% in June to 73% in September.

Rather than end the monarchy, observers say that if anything, recent challenges will fuel reforms.

“I think the significance for the royal house and the monarchy in the long run is to define much clearer distinctions between who are royals and who are not," Schulsrud-Hansen said. As for its survival, “I’m not worried at all,” he said. “When you see how the crown prince acts when he has to answer questions about these controversies, he stands like a pillar."

Taalesen shares that optimism, even as an unprecedented criminal trial looms.

“I believe that the monarchy in Norway is strong,” she said. “The people are very supportive of our king and queen.”

Courthouse News correspondent Lasse Sørensen is based in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Follow @LasseSrensen13