EXCLUSIVE: The extraordinary behind-the-scenes story of the Norway royal wedding
HELLO!'s editorial team reveal what really happened when they covered Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett’s nuptials
Hi Royal Clubbers,
Even by the otherworldly standards of royal weddings, the marriage of Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett in August 2024 was pretty memorable. Not only was it set against the dramatic backdrop of Norway’s Geirangerfjord, the drama wasn’t just limited to the scenery.
Anyone who has seen the Netflix documentary, Rebel Royals, An Unlikely Love Story (read Andrea’s review here), will know that Märtha and Durek aren’t your everyday royal pairing, and so their wedding was always likely to attract huge attention both at home and globally.
The couple’s decision to entrust HELLO! as the official media partner for their big day made absolute sense given its nonpareil royal credentials, yet the decision not to award the exclusive coverage to a native publisher undoubtedly put a few noses out of joint in the Norwegian media fraternity.
Under such circumstances, the HELLO! team which flew out to Norway to cover the wedding was aware that its every move would be placed under intense scrutiny, with the country’s press seeking to scoop the exclusive and discredit HELLO! at every turn.
What unfolded would not look amiss in a Hollywood blockbuster (Fjord Weddings and Few Narwhal, anyone?), with frantic boat rides, frantic races against time, and even more frantic attempts by HELLO!’s intrepid protagonists to maintain the sanctity of our global exclusive (you will never look at hotel bed sheets in the same way after watching the video).
All of this and more is captured in Behind the Sheets: Covering Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett’s Wedding, as HELLO!’s Sophie, Jessica, Andrea and Sally recount their Norwegian sojourn from reality. And here’s the best bit: it can only be seen on The HELLO! Royal Club.
The video comes in at nearly 20 minutes long, so go and pour yourself a cup of coffee (or something stronger depending on the time of day), and settle in for what is a true treat for anyone who loves both royals and drama!
After you’ve finished watching the film, we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. How would you have coped under such pressure? And do you think Märtha and Durek’s remarkable love story will stand the test of time?