Norwegian Royal Expresses Deep Regret Over Epstein Friendship in Tense Television Interview
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway has delivered an emotional television interview where she expressed profound regret over her friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The future Queen of Norway stated she feels it is critically important to take personal responsibility for not investigating Epstein's background before developing what she described as a very friendly relationship with the disgraced financier.
Emotional Royal Confession
During the interview filmed at the royal residence in Skaugum, Mette-Marit became visibly emotional as she sat alongside her husband, Crown Prince Haakon. The 52-year-old princess told Norwegian public broadcaster NRK that she wishes she had never met Epstein, whose connections to her were recently revealed in documents released by the US Department of Justice.
"Of course, I wish I had never met him," Mette-Marit confessed. "I feel so manipulated, and when you are manipulated, you don't realise it from the start."
Taking Responsibility for Poor Judgment
The Crown Princess emphasized her need to accept responsibility for her actions, stating: "It is incredibly important for me to take responsibility for not checking his background more carefully. And to take responsibility for being so manipulated and deceived as I was."
Mette-Marit maintained that throughout the duration of her friendship with Epstein between 2011 and 2014, she was unaware he was a sex offender or predator. This despite Epstein having been convicted in 2008 of soliciting a minor for prostitution, which required him to register as a sex offender.
Revealing Email Correspondence
The interview revealed troubling email exchanges between the princess and Epstein, including one where she told the convicted sex offender "you make me smile," while he stated he was on a "wife hunt." In another message, Mette-Marit suggested Paris was "good for adultery" and that Scandinavian women were "better wife material."
When questioned about why she didn't research Epstein's background more thoroughly, given that his conviction was publicly listed on Wikipedia, Mette-Marit responded: "I can't remember this; it was 15 years ago. I still didn't know anything about all the abuse. But I had understood enough that I thought he was a bad guy who people shouldn't have contact with."
Disturbing Incident in Florida
The princess described a particular "situation" during her final day at Epstein's Florida home in 2013 that left her feeling uneasy. While she refused to provide specific details about the incident, she revealed she immediately phoned her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, who confirmed the details made Mette-Marit feel "unsafe."
Despite this unsettling experience, Mette-Marit continued contact with Epstein before eventually terminating their friendship. "I am overly trusting," she admitted. "I tend to think the best of people. But I also chose to end all direct contact with him. And it was because of such episodes as that."
Public and Political Scrutiny
The Crown Princess has faced intense public scrutiny since her connections to Epstein became public, including criticism from Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. The timing of the interview was particularly sensitive, coming on the same day her son Marius Borh Høiby's week-long rape trial concluded.
Høiby, who carries no royal status and does not officially represent the royal family, pleaded not guilty to four charges of rape but admitted to several driving offences, an aggravated drug offence, breaking a restraining order, and partially to threats and aggravated assault.
Royal Future in Question
During the interview, Mette-Marit addressed whether her connection to Epstein and ongoing health issues might affect her future royal role. She indicated that any decisions about her continued participation in royal duties would be determined primarily by her health rather than the Epstein controversy.
In a previous statement, the princess had expressed: "Jeffrey Epstein is personally responsible for his actions. I must take responsibility for not checking Epstein's background more closely and for not understanding quickly enough what kind of person he was. I deeply regret that, and this is a responsibility I must take."
She added: "I showed poor judgment and regret having any contact with Epstein at all. It is simply embarrassing. I want to express my deep sympathy and solidarity with the victims of the abuses committed by Jeffrey Epstein."
The Norwegian royal family issued a separate statement regarding Høiby's trial, expressing concern for all parties involved: "We are thinking a lot about all the parties involved in this matter. This is something that affects them, their families, those who love them. We care about them. We know that many of you are going through a difficult time right now."
Jeffrey Epstein took his own life at age 66 in August 2019 while incarcerated at the Metropolitan Correctional Centre in New York, where he was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges involving minors.
