Durek Verrett undergoes successful kidney transplant in Oslo
Durek Verrett, the American spiritual guide married to Norway's Princess Märtha Louise, has undergone a successful kidney transplant at Oslo University Hospital, the couple confirmed on 26 August 2026.
In a joint statement, Verrett and Princess Märtha Louise said they were "incredibly relieved and deeply grateful" after the operation. They thanked the donor — the person who stepped forward to give a kidney — along with healthcare staff at Rikshospitalet and Drammen Hospital, and asked for "peace and privacy" in the weeks ahead as Verrett recovers HELLO!.
The transplant comes roughly a year after Verrett first revealed he was on dialysis — the blood-filtering treatment that takes over when the kidneys can no longer function — three times a week. He disclosed in 2025 that he had lost a previous kidney transplant several years earlier and was relying on dialysis "just to stay alive." In an August 2024 interview with HELLO!, Verrett said he had dealt with blood pressure problems and frequent infections since childhood. His need for a new kidney was later detailed in the Netflix documentary Rebel Royals with Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett, released in September 2025.
The couple said they hope their story encourages more people to talk about organ donation and make a decision about registering as a donor HELLO!.
The news arrives during a period of significant health concerns across the Norwegian royal household. King Harald, 87, continued to recover in hospital from haemolytic anaemia — a condition in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than the body can replace them. His condition was reported as "deteriorating" but "stable" on Sunday, with no further update issued on Monday HELLO!. Crown Princess Mette-Marit underwent a lung transplant in June for pulmonary fibrosis, a disease that scars lung tissue and makes breathing increasingly difficult.
Princess Märtha Louise, the eldest daughter of King Harald and Queen Sonja, married Verrett in 2024 in a ceremony covered by HELLO!. The princess, who retains her royal title but has stepped back from official duties, has said she does not use the style "Her Royal Highness" in commercial contexts. Verrett, a self-described shaman and author, has publicly criticised the Norwegian press, writing on Instagram in August 2025 that he had been "relentlessly targeted by Norwegian media."
For now, the couple's focus is recovery. Verrett's transplant was successful, the hospital stay continues, and the donor whose kidney made it possible has the couple's gratitude.
