Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit has issued a profound public apology following revelations of her extensive three-year correspondence with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The palace released an official statement expressing the royal’s deep regret for her association with the disgraced financier, acknowledging the damage caused to the Norwegian monarchy.
Newly disclosed emails from 2011-2014, uncovered in recent U.S. Justice Department filings, reveal startling details about their relationship. The correspondence indicates the crown princess spent four days at Epstein’s Palm Beach residence while he was absent, and contains evidence she was aware of his criminal history. In one October 2011 message, she wrote: ‘Googled u after last email… Agree didn’t look too good,’ referencing Epstein’s 2008 prostitution conviction.
The apology comes during an exceptionally challenging period for the royal family. Crown Princess Mette-Marits eldest son, Marius Borg Høiby, is currently facing a high-profile trial on 38 criminal charges including four counts of rape, all of which he denies. The 29-year-old, who is not a royal family member but was raised within the royal household, broke down in court this week while describing lifelong media harassment.
Compounding these difficulties, the crown princess suffers from severe pulmonary fibrosis and may require a lung transplant. Crown Prince Haakon acknowledged the family’s multiple crises, stating his priority has been ‘to take care of the flock’ during this tumultuous period.
The royal household faces mounting scrutiny as Princess Ingrid Alexandra, second in line to the throne, separately criticized media coverage on her private social media, denouncing ‘personal attacks’ without specifically referencing either controversy.
The palace has declined further comment on either matter, maintaining that the crown princess needs time to ‘gather herself’ amid what it describes as a ‘very difficult situation.’