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The Royal Family often divides UK residents between those who see the firm as a force for good and those who see them as a drag on taxpayer money. Royal life is synonymous with luxury, but most members of the family are expected to spend a lot of time in the public eye. Some relish their time with the people, while others step back in favour of building their private lives. One royal of another family chose to build a new career as an “agent of change”, partnered with a ‘spiritual guide’.

The Royal Family of Norway enjoys a lot of public support, and the House of Glücksburg is known as one of the most revered in Europe. The family has a high approval rate amongst Norwegians, namely due to their enjoyment of public appearances and a care-free attitude. As such, most members the family are free to pursue whichever careers they so desire, as long as they are not immediately in line for the throne. One Royal family member who embraced this freedom is Princess Märtha Louise, who holds some unusual career aspirations. READ MORE: How Meghan Markle and Prince Harry sneaked on low-cost flight

Royal rebel: The Princess who shunned royal life to become an ‘agent of change’

Princess Märtha Louise of Norway was born in 1971 to King Harald and Queen Sonja. She is currently fourth in line to the throne, and her younger brother Crown Prince Haakon is the heir apparent. The Princess grew up in Oslo, where she led a “normal” life, interacting with children at local daycares and primary schools. Märtha Louise later attended Oxford University, and qualified as a physical therapist from Oslo University College in 1997, and became a Rosen practitioner in 2000. READ MORE: Royal Instagram snub: How Princess was deactivated from Instagram

The House of Glücksburg

As a Rosen practitioner, she focussed on using a method which allows people to experience “the whole range of emotions and sensation.” On top of the Princess’ qualification as a physical therapist, she has authored several books intending to make Norwegian fairy tales more relevant in the 21st century. However, her most recent venture has a distinctly strange twist, as she announced she would work as an “agent of change”. Princess Märtha announced earlier this year she was dating self-proclaimed spiritual guide Shaman Durek Verrett. READ MORE: Queen shock: How Queen was humiliated by her husband in outburst

Martha and Shaman Durek Verrett

According to his official website, the Shaman acts as a “mediator or ‘bridge’ between the spiritual and physical planes”. He also claims to be an “author, activist and a women’s empowerment leader”, and his clients include Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow. She has now eschewed her royal title to follow a career as an “agent of change” alongside the shaman, and the couple is holding workshops together. Alongside her influencer work, Märtha Louise is a patron of eight charities.

Princess Martha and the Shaman are doing workshops together

Martha Louise formerly drew controversy when she titled a tour of hers and Shaman Verrett the 'Princess and the Shaman'. The Princess saw outcry from critics who claimed she was using her title for commercial purposes. She later posted to Instagram she would restrict the use of her honorific, going by Martha Louise when conducting business. She said: “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."