Queen Mette-Marit has received a new title following the death of King Harald, but royal fans were not impressed.
Europe's oldest monarch died on Friday morning in Norway, at the age of 89. His son, Haakon, automatically became King of Norway and held a meeting with the Council of State, as per royal tradition. He also chose to keep his name, making his official title His Majesty King Haakon VIII. His wife's official title is now Her Majesty Queen Mette-Marit.
Controversial past
Mette-Marit has been a controversial figure after details about her past association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein emerged. Her son, Marius Borg Høiby, was also recently convicted of rape and other offences and is now under house arrest.
Fans were not impressed with the latest update and took to social media to express their views. One user wrote on X: “No offence, but Mette-Marit isn't Queen material, especially after reading her flirty emails to Epstein!”
A second one said: “When will Norway have a revolt? Taxpayers are paying and indulging the Epstein queen with her rapist son.”
A third one opined: “Well of course she is the Queen as she's his wife. But she certainly doesn't deserve to be.”
Social media backlash
A fourth one added: “She should've been stripped of her crown princess status a long time ago.” A fifth one commented: “Disgusting. I cannot believe that the Norwegian people let her be queen.”
A sixth one blasted: “What a shame to the crown.”
Mette-Marit previously expressed her “regret” about her links to Epstein. Earlier this year, she said: “I would like to express my deepest regret for my friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. It is important for me to apologise to all of you whom I have disappointed.
“Some of the content of the messages between Epstein and me does not represent the person I want to be.
“I also apologise for the situation that I have put the Royal House in, especially the King and Queen.”
Epstein files
The Epstein files contained several hundred mentions of the crown princess, who, according to local media, already said in 2019 that she regretted having had contact with Epstein. The documents, which include email exchanges, showed that Mette-Marit borrowed an Epstein-owned property in Palm Beach, Florida, for several days in 2013.
Another email from November 2012 saw the crown princess asking Epstein: “Is it inappropriate for a mother to suggest two naked women carrying a surfboard for my 15-year-old son's wallpaper?” He replied, “Let them decide,” and advised that the mother should, “Stay out of it.”
Being mentioned in the Epstein files does not indicate wrongdoing.
