Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit on Friday publicly expressed regret over her past friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, calling her involvement a result of manipulation and deception, and wishing she had never met him.
The disclosure comes after the US Justice Department released millions of Epstein documents, revealing his connections to global figures, including Norwegian politicians, business leaders, diplomats, and the crown princess, heightening scrutiny of the royal family.
Read more : Justice department publishes FBI Epstein interviews involving …
Mette-Marit, 52, told public broadcaster NRK that she was misled by Epstein and emphasised she never observed anything illegal, despite staying at his Palm Beach home for four days during a private trip in 2013.
The documents indicate the crown princess maintained contact with Epstein from 2011 to 2014, long after his 2008 guilty plea for soliciting an underage girl, prompting a rare public rebuke by Norway’s prime minister and calls for a full account.
She apologised to King Harald and Queen Sonja in February, and while not accused of criminal wrongdoing, the revelations have dented public confidence, with recent polls showing the monarchy’s support in Norway dropping from 70% to around 60%.
Despite the controversy, Mette-Marit reaffirmed her commitment to transparency, stressing her ignorance of illegal acts while engaging with Epstein, as Norway’s royal family works to manage one of the most significant scandals in recent history.