Norway's Crown Princess Addresses Contentious Ties to Jeffrey Epstein Amid Royal Scandal

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway has publicly expressed deep regret and remorse over her past association with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as new document releases intensify scrutiny on the royal family.

Revelations Spark Royal Scrutiny

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway on Friday confronted the fallout from her association with Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender, describing herself as "manipulated and deceived." Her tearful interview with public broadcaster NRK marked a significant moment for the Norwegian royal family, as newly released U.S. Justice Department documents detailed extensive communication between Epstein and prominent global figures, including the Crown Princess.

These documents, made public by the U.S. Justice Department, have revealed connections between Epstein and a network that includes top Norwegian politicians, business executives, diplomats, and the Crown Princess. While previous media reports had alluded to Mette-Marit's links to Epstein, the latest disclosures indicated a more substantial relationship, prompting renewed public and political calls for a comprehensive explanation from the royal.

Princess Mette-Marit's Account of the Relationship

In her interview, Crown Princess Mette-Marit stated, "Of course, I wish I had never met him." The files indicate she maintained contact with Epstein from 2011 to 2014, a period well after his 2008 guilty plea for soliciting an underage girl. Notably, the Crown Princess, who is 52, also stayed at Epstein's Palm Beach residence for four days during a private trip in 2013, according to the U.S. documents.

She attributed her continued contact to being "gullible" and her inclination to "believe the best about people," explaining that Epstein "used the fact that we had a mutual friend." Mette-Marit affirmed that she "chose to end contact with him" and reiterated, "I’ve never seen anything illegal." The Crown Princess has not faced any accusations of criminal wrongdoing.

However, the recently released documents appear to complicate a 2019 statement she made, in which she apologized for not investigating Epstein’s past and asserted she would never have associated with him had she known the severity of his crimes. An email from October 2011, sent three years after Epstein's conviction, showed Mette-Marit writing to him that she had "googled him" and agreed "it didn’t look too good," followed by a smiley emoji. When questioned by NRK about the email, she stated she could not recall its specific context but maintained, "if I had found information that made me realize that he was an abuser and sex offender, I wouldn’t have written a smiley face behind it."

Political Support and Personal Challenges

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere publicly acknowledged the importance of the Crown Princess addressing the questions surrounding her relationship with Epstein. In an emailed statement to Reuters, he noted, "She regretted her contact with him and she was genuinely remorseful. She took responsibility for not having checked his background more thoroughly." Crown Princess Mette-Marit had also issued an apology to King Harald and Queen Sonja on February 6 regarding the matter.

Crown Prince Haakon, Mette-Marit's husband and heir to the throne, offered public support to his wife during what he described as a "difficult time," emphasizing that marriage encompasses both "the good days and the bad." He praised her, saying, "Mette is caring, wise and really strong. And that’s why I will always have her on the team when something difficult happens."

The Crown Princess has been notably absent from public engagements for several weeks, while other members of the royal family have maintained a busy schedule. Beyond the Epstein controversy, Mette-Marit also faces personal health challenges, including a chronic lung disease that may eventually necessitate a lung transplant. Additionally, her eldest son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Hoiby, 29, is currently undergoing trial, accused of rape and other crimes. Hoiby has pleaded not guilty to rape and domestic abuse, though he admitted to some lesser charges in court.

Impact on Public Opinion

The recent controversies have taken a toll on the Norwegian royal family's public image. A Norstat poll conducted in February, surveying 1,009 respondents and published by NRK on February 21, indicated a decline in support for the monarchy. Approximately 60% of Norwegians supported the monarchy, a decrease from 70% in January. Concurrently, support for a republic saw an increase to 27%.

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