Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story

Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story
Promotional poster
GenreDocumentary film
Directed byRebecca Chaiklin
Starring
ComposerMark Yaeger
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Producers
  • Chris Smith
  • Rebecca Chaiklin
  • Stacy Smith
EditorAmanda Griffin
Running time101 minutes
Production companies
  • Library Films
  • Article 19
Original release
NetworkNetflix
Release26 September 2025 (2025-09-26)

Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story is a 2025 documentary film featuring Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and her husband Durek Verrett. It was released on 16 September 2025 by Netflix. The production followed the couple in the lead-up to their wedding in Geiranger and presented their relationship as a modern royal love story.[1][2] The couple sold exclusive rights to their wedding to Netflix and Hello! magazine, while shutting out the Norwegian press from the ceremony. This decision drew sharp criticism in Norway, where commentators described the arrangement as a commercial transaction that further blurred the lines between royalty and private business ventures.[1]

Content

Upon the release of the trailer, Norwegian commentators criticized the documentary as a commercial exploitation of Märtha Louise's royal title in violation of an agreement she had signed with the royal household in 2019, later extended to include Verrett, which barred use of the princess title or royal association for commercial purposes.[1][3] After seeing the trailer, Aftenposten commentator Harald Stanghelle characterized the documentary as "a purely commercial affair," arguing that it clearly played on the royal connection in breach of the agreement with the palace.[1]

In the trailer, Märtha Louise was portrayed as "the biggest celebrity" in Norway, while Verrett reiterated his claim that he is "half reptilian" and stated that he "would like a royal wedding because [he was] going to be royal." He also said that he was open to dating beings from other planets. Norwegian royal commentator Tove Taalesen, interviewed for the documentary, remarked that Verrett might be "a scam artist."[4] In her review of the documentary, Taalesen wrote that the documentary is "a display of madness, eccentric people, and the pursuit of attention – at the expense of King Harald."[5]

In the documentary, Verrett said he had not been welcomed with open arms by the royal family, and that King Harald, Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon "didn't know what racism was" and that "they looked at me as if I were crazy when I said that racism existed." He said the King and Queen hated his clothes, everything he did, and that they "would always let Märtha know" he was the wrong boyfriend for her.[6][7][8][9][10][11] Verrett said the first time that King Harald asked about his experiences of racism was when Oprah with Meghan and Harry aired, and that "they didn't want a family discussion because they didn't want to treat me that way. They wanted to have a family discussion because they were afraid I might be the next one on Oprah."[12][13]

Reception

Norwegian media called the documentary and Verrett's statements a "character assassination of the king and queen."[14] Norwegian commentators said Verrett and Märtha Louise "are making fools of themselves."[15]

The royal family said the documentary violated Märtha Louise's and Verrett's agreement with the royal family not to use her title or connection to the royal family.[16] The documentary was described as mentioning the title "princess" every third minute and as a "middle finger to the royal family.", according to TV2.[17] It reignited demands that the king must strip Märtha of her title to prevent further abuse of a constitutional title tied to state functions.[18][19] Royal historian Trond Norén Isaksen said to NRK the agreement has been violated numerous times and that only way to solve the problem would be to remove Märtha Louise's title.[20][21]

Aftenposten, in its review of the documentary, wrote that "Rebel Royals tells us that Märtha and Durek are often subjected to criticism, but have never themselves done anything worthy of criticism. The film is a demonstration of the duo's lack of ability to accept self-criticism," and that King Harald is "heavily exploited" in the film.[22] Dagbladet called the documentary propaganda that "appears mostly like an advertisement for the couple themselves."[23]

Verrett and Märtha Louise invited to a party to celebrate the documentary. Royal commentator Tove Taalesen, who was interviewed in the documentary, called it tasteless.[24][25]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Mener prinsessedokumentar bryter kongelig avtale". NRK. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  2. ^ "Netflix Drops Trailer for 'Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story'" (Press release). Netflix Newsroom. September 3, 2025. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  3. ^ "Netflix-trailer om Märtha Louise og Durek Verrett klar: – Et soleklart brudd på avtalen med kongehuset". BT. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  4. ^ "Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story". Netflix. September 3, 2025. Retrieved 4 September 2025 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ "Fremstiller nordmenn som uvitende rasister". Nettavisen. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  6. ^ "Kongehuset etter Durek Verretts rasismeoppgjør: – Kan huske ting litt ulikt". NRK. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  7. ^ "Durek Verrett tar et rasismeoppgjør med kongen i ny Netflix-dokumentar". NRK. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  8. ^ "Sjokkuttalelser om kongeparet". Dagbladet. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  9. ^ "Durek Verrett ut mot kongefamilien: –⁠ Visste ikke hva rasisme var". VG. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  10. ^ "Durek med sjokkanklager mot Harald: – De så på meg som om jeg var gal". Nettavisen. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  11. ^ "Durek Verrett i Netflix-film om første møte med kongeparet: – De hatet klærne mine". Dagsavisen. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  12. ^ "Watch Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story". Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  13. ^ "Thought Harry and Meghan were bad? Meet Norway's Rebel Royals". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  14. ^ "Karakterdrap på kongeparet". Aftenbladet. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  15. ^ "Kongehusekspert om dokumentaren: –⁠ Trist hvordan kongen blir fremstilt". VG. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  16. ^ "Kongehuset om Netflix-dokumentar: – Brudd på avtalen med kongehuset". NRK. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  17. ^ "Nevner «prinsesse» hvert tredje minutt: – Langfinger til kongehuset". TV2. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  18. ^ "Dette må vere eit farvel til kongefamilien og Norge". BT. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  19. ^ "Kongehusekspert: – På tide at kongen løser dette problemet". Dagsavisen. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  20. ^ "Kommentator om prinsesse-dokumentar: – Et bakholdsangrep på kongen". NRK. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  21. ^ Aasmundsen, Jakob Semb; Knutsen, Kristin (16 September 2025). "Mener kongen må gå hardere til verks: – Må inndra prinsessetittelen". Aftenposten. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  22. ^ Åbergsjord, Ingrid (16 September 2025). "Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story". Aftenposten. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  23. ^ Balstrøm, Karoline (17 September 2025). "TV-anmeldelse: - Ren propaganda". Dagbladet (in Norwegian). Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  24. ^ Solberg, Julie (16 September 2025). "Arrangerer egen fest etter sjokkdokumentar: – Usmakelig". Nettavisen (in Norwegian). Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  25. ^ "Her ignorerer Durek og Märtha pressen: – Er dette noe å feire?". Nettavisen. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
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