Crown princess of Norway asserts that Epstein “manipulated and deceived” her
Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit expressed on Friday her regret over her friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, aiming to address one of the most significant scandals to affect the royal family.
The release of millions of Epstein documents by the U.S. Justice Department has caused a global stir, exposing the disgraced financier’s connections to influential figures, including the crown princess and leading Norwegian politicians, business leaders, and diplomats. “I was manipulated and deceived,” Mette-Marit expressed in an emotional interview with public broadcaster NRK aired on Friday morning. “Of course, I wish I had never met him,” she reflected on her encounter with Epstein.
Documents indicate regular communication
The documents revealed ongoing correspondence between Mette-Marit and Epstein that took place well after he admitted guilt in 2008 for soliciting an underage girl. The 52-year-old crown princess, who expressed her apologies to King Harald and Queen Sonja in a statement on February 6, has not faced any allegations of criminal wrongdoing.
Previous media reports indicated Mette-Marit’s connections to Epstein, but the newly released documents revealed a more profound relationship, leading to an uncommon reprimand from the prime minister and calls for her to provide a complete explanation.
On Friday, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere emphasized the significance of Mette-Marit addressing inquiries regarding her relationship with Epstein. “She expressed regret over her contact with him and demonstrated genuine remorse.” In an emailed statement to Reuters, he acknowledged her failure to conduct a more thorough background check.
The princess, wife of Crown Prince Haakon, the heir to the throne, kept in touch with Epstein from 2011 to 2014 and spent four days at his Palm Beach residence during a private visit in 2013, according to U.S. documents.
He took advantage of our mutual friend and my tendency to be gullible. I prefer to see the good in people. “However, I also decided to cut off contact with him,” Mette-Marit stated. “I have never witnessed anything unlawful,” she informed NRK.
The Epstein files seemed to challenge a statement she made in 2019, where she expressed regret for not having looked into his history and claimed she would never have connected with him had she been aware of the gravity of the crimes he committed.
In an email sent in October 2011, three years after Epstein’s guilty plea, Mette-Marit mentioned that she had searched for him online and acknowledged that “it didn’t look too good,” accompanied by a smiley face.
In response to NRK’s inquiry about the email, Mette-Marit stated that she could not recall the reason for writing it. “However, had I discovered information indicating that he was an abuser and sex offender, I certainly wouldn’t have added a smiley face at the end,” she remarked.
INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGES
Sitting beside her, Mette-Marit’s husband, Haakon, expressed his support for his wife during a challenging period, emphasizing that marriage encompasses both “the good days and the bad.”
Mette possesses a nurturing spirit, profound wisdom, and remarkable strength. “And that’s why I will always have her on the team when something difficult arises,” the crown prince stated.
Haakon and the rest of the royal family have kept a full agenda, which includes attending the Winter Olympics in Italy and participating in various events in Norway. However, the crown princess has not appeared in public for several weeks.
Mette-Marit is facing the challenges of a chronic lung disease that will ultimately necessitate a lung transplant. Additionally, she is navigating the difficult situation involving her eldest son from a previous relationship, who is facing accusations of rape and other offenses.
Marius Borg Hoiby, 29, has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and domestic abuse, while acknowledging some lesser offenses in court.
Recent months have seen a decline in the popularity of the Norwegian royal family, according to a February survey conducted with 1,009 respondents.
According to a Norstat poll published on February 21 by public broadcaster NRK, approximately 60% of Norwegians expressed support for the monarchy, a decrease from 70% in January. Meanwhile, support for a republic rose to 27%, up from 19% during the same timeframe.
