Norway’s Crown Princess Tearfully Breaks Her Silence On Her Ties To Jeffrey Epstein

Oslo, March 20 (Reuters) – Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway expressed her regret on Friday for her association with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in an attempt to address one of the largest scandals to impact the country’s royal family.

The release of millions of documents by the U.S. Justice Department has caused shockwaves globally, exposing Epstein’s connections to influential individuals, including the crown princess as well as top Norwegian politicians, business leaders, and diplomats.

“I was manipulated and deceived,” Mette-Marit said in an emotional interview with NRK on Friday morning. “Of course, I wish I had never met him,” she added, referring to Epstein.

Epstein Files Reveal Ongoing Contact

The documents unveiled frequent communication between Mette-Marit and Epstein that persisted long after his 2008 guilty plea for soliciting an underage girl.

Despite previous reports linking Mette-Marit to Epstein, the new revelations showcased a deeper connection, prompting criticism from the prime minister and calls for a full explanation from the princess.

During the period of 2011 to 2014, the 52-year-old crown princess maintained contact with Epstein and even stayed at his Palm Beach residence for four days during a private visit in 2013, as indicated in the U.S. files.

“He exploited the fact that we had a mutual acquaintance, and my trusting nature. I tend to see the best in people. However, I made the decision to sever ties with him,” Mette-Marit explained.

“I have not witnessed any illegal activities,” she assured NRK.

Contradicting a statement from 2019, where she acknowledged not researching Epstein’s background and vowed to avoid him if aware of the severity of his crimes, the released emails painted a different picture.

In an email from October 2011, Mette-Marit mentioned googling Epstein and acknowledging that it “didn’t look too good,” followed by a smiley face. When questioned about this email, she admitted she couldn’t recall the context but asserted that she wouldn’t have used a smiley if aware of his criminal activities.

Sitting beside her, Crown Prince Haakon expressed his support for his wife during this challenging period, emphasizing that marriage is about standing together through both good and bad times.

“Mette is compassionate, wise, and incredibly resilient. That’s why I will always stand by her side when faced with adversity,” the crown prince affirmed.

While Haakon and the royal family have maintained an active public presence, with engagements such as the Winter Olympics in Italy, the crown princess has kept a low profile in recent weeks.

Dealing with a chronic lung condition that may necessitate a lung transplant in the future, Mette-Marit is also grappling with her eldest son’s trial for rape and other charges.

Her son, Marius Borg Hoiby, 29, has pleaded not guilty to rape and domestic violence allegations, while admitting to some lesser offenses in court.

A February survey of 1,009 individuals revealed a decline in the popularity of the Norwegian royal family, with 60% supporting the monarchy (down from 70% in January) and 27% advocating for a republic (up from 19% during the same period).

The prime minister’s office did not provide an immediate response to requests for comment.