In a revealing television interview with Norwegian broadcaster NRK, Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway disclosed her disturbing experiences with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, describing herself as a victim of manipulation and deception. The royal couple’s 20-minute interview addressed the ongoing scrutiny surrounding the princess’s association with Epstein, which has persisted for years despite no allegations of wrongdoing on her part.
The crown princess detailed a particularly unsettling 2013 encounter at Epstein’s Palm Beach, Florida mansion that left her feeling so unsafe that she contacted her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, the heir to Norway’s throne. While declining to provide specific details about the incident, Mette-Marit attributed her continued contact with Epstein between 2011 and 2014 to her own gullibility and his manipulative behavior.
This interview coincided with the conclusion of the criminal trial involving Mette-Marit’s son, Marius Borg Høiby, from a previous relationship. Prosecutors have sought a prison sentence exceeding seven years for Høiby, who maintains his innocence against rape allegations. A verdict in his case is anticipated in early June.
The princess, who suffers from pulmonary fibrosis causing serious respiratory challenges, acknowledged the strain her Epstein association has placed on the royal family. She expressed profound regret for her connection to Epstein, particularly emphasizing her sympathy for his victims and admitting responsibility for insufficient background research. Despite hundreds of email exchanges between them—including personal messages where Mette-Marit described Epstein as someone who ‘tickled her brain’—she maintained she never witnessed any illegal activities or knew about his sexual offenses until they became public knowledge.
Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sexually abusing underage girls at multiple residences.