Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit has broken her silence regarding her controversial connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in a highly anticipated interview scheduled for broadcast on NRK TV this Friday. The recorded session took place alongside Crown Prince Haakon at their Skaugum residence, coinciding with the final stages of her son Marius Borg Høiby’s seven-week rape trial at Oslo District Court.
The interview emerges amidst mounting pressure on the royal family, stemming from two simultaneous scandals that have captivated Norwegian society. Høiby, the 29-year-old son from the crown princess’s previous relationship, faces 40 criminal charges including four counts of rape, serious assault, drug violations, and traffic offenses. Despite not being a formal member of the royal family, Høiby has grown up in the public eye since his mother married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001.
The trial represents Norway’s most significant court spectacle in recent years, with defense lawyers Ellen Holager Andenæs and Petar Sekulic arguing for their client’s acquittal on rape charges while acknowledging lesser offenses. Prosecutors have requested a severe sentence of seven years and seven months, with a verdict expected in June.
Compounding the royal family’s challenges, hundreds of emails between Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Epstein dating from 2011-2014 recently surfaced, revealing her four-day stay at his Palm Beach residence despite awareness of his criminal background. In one particularly damning 2011 message, she acknowledged: ‘Googled u after last email. Agree didn’t look too good.’
The crown princess has issued multiple apologies, describing her actions as demonstrating ‘poor judgement’ and expressing that some communications ‘do not represent the person I want to be.’ Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has notably joined the criticism, marking rare public disapproval of a royal figure.
Adding to the complexity, the crown princess battles deteriorating health due to pulmonary fibrosis, which has prevented her from participating in upcoming state visits. Her condition reportedly influenced the timing of her public response, with Crown Prince Haakon previously stating she ‘would like to speak, but right now she can’t.’
The scandals have prompted tangible consequences, with two organizations severing ties with the crown princess as patron. Meanwhile, Norway’s parliament has established an independent commission to investigate connections between the foreign ministry and Epstein, underscoring the affair’s broader political implications beyond the royal household.