The Norwegian royal family confronts converging scandals as newly released documents reveal Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s extensive connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, coinciding with her stepson’s impending criminal trial. Judicial files disclosed by the U.S. Department of Justice document hundreds of communications between the princess and Epstein spanning 2011-2014, including a four-day stay at his Palm Beach residence in January 2013.
In a Saturday statement, Princess Mette-Marit acknowledged “poor judgement” and expressed profound regret for maintaining any association with Epstein. “It is simply embarrassing,” the princess stated, while extending her “deep sympathy and solidarity with the victims of the abuses committed by Jeffrey Epstein.”
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre endorsed the princess’s self-assessment, simultaneously criticizing former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland for similar misjudgment regarding planned travels to Epstein’s private island. The prime minister’s explicit commentary on royal conduct marks a notable departure from conventional diplomatic reserve.
Compounding the royal family’s challenges, Marius Borg Høiby—the princess’s biological son from a previous relationship—faces 38 criminal charges including rape and sexual assault. The 29-year-old, who holds no royal status, denies all allegations, with the most severe charge involving intercourse with an unconscious victim. A conviction could result in a minimum ten-year imprisonment.
Neither Crown Princess Mette-Marit nor Crown Prince Haakon will attend the Oslo District Court proceedings, though the prince recently expressed familial concern for “everyone affected by this case.” The royal household simultaneously navigates the princess’s serious health challenges, as she awaits lung transplantation due to pulmonary fibrosis.
Norwegian commentators express particular alarm over the casual tone of the Epstein correspondence, including one email inquiring whether nude women carrying surfboards would constitute appropriate wallpaper imagery for her son. The revelations intensify scrutiny regarding royal advisers’ failure to recognize the dangers of sustained contact with a known sex offender.