Norwegian Royal Faces Intense Scrutiny Over Epstein Communications
The Norwegian monarchy has been plunged into a significant crisis following the disclosure of extensive communications between Crown Princess Mette-Marit and the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Newly unsealed court documents from the United States Department of Justice have revealed that the 52-year-old royal exchanged dozens of emails with the disgraced financier between 2011 and 2014, despite his well-publicised criminal history.
Extensive Digital Correspondence Revealed
According to detailed reports from Norwegian media outlets, the Crown Princess's name appears more than one thousand times within the millions of pages of Epstein-related documents released to the public last Friday. These records indicate that Mette-Marit maintained regular contact with Epstein through electronic mail over a three-year period, during which time she was fully aware of his 2008 conviction for procuring an underage girl for prostitution.
The email exchanges, described by royal experts as surprisingly informal and effusive, include several concerning messages that have raised serious questions about the Crown Princess's judgement. In one particularly troubling communication, Mette-Marit asked Epstein whether it would be "inappropriate for a mother to suggest two naked women carrying a surfboard for my 15 yr old son's wallpaper."
Personal Meetings and Questionable Content
Beyond the digital correspondence, historical records confirm that the Crown Princess met personally with Epstein on at least three separate occasions between 2011 and 2013. These meetings took place in diverse locations including Oslo, New York City, and various Caribbean destinations. The documents further reveal that Mette-Marit spent four consecutive days as a guest at Epstein's Florida residence in 2013.
Additional email content shows the royal describing Epstein as "very charming" and engaging in casual banter about his personal life. When Epstein mentioned visiting Paris "on (a) wife hunt" in 2012, Mette-Marit responded by suggesting the French capital was "good for adultery" while Scandinavian women represented "better wife material."
Royal Apology and Acknowledgment of Error
In response to the mounting public pressure, Crown Princess Mette-Marit issued a formal statement through the royal palace on Saturday, describing her association with Epstein as "simply embarrassing." She acknowledged displaying "poor judgment" and expressed "deep regret" for maintaining any contact with the convicted criminal.
"I am responsible for not having checked Epstein's background more closely and not understanding quickly enough what kind of person he was," the 52-year-old royal stated. This admission appears somewhat contradictory to evidence within the documents themselves, which include a 2011 email where Mette-Marit informed Epstein she had "googled" him and found results that "didn't look too good," concluding the message with a smiling emoji.
Expert Analysis and Political Response
Norwegian historian and royal specialist Ole-Jorgen Schulsrud-Hansen commented that the correspondence "almost gives the impression that they were close friends," while emphasising that the broader context of the messages remains unknown. He stressed that "a Crown Princess is never a private person" and noted that the situation demonstrates "a lack of judgment and that all the 'safety catches' around her also failed."
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store added his voice to the criticism on Sunday, publicly stating that he "agreed" the Crown Princess had committed a significant error in judgement through her association with Epstein.
Compounding Family Difficulties
The timing of these revelations could hardly be more damaging for the Norwegian royal family. On Tuesday, Mette-Marit's 29-year-old son, Marius Borg Hoiby, is scheduled to appear before Oslo District Court facing thirty-eight separate criminal charges. These allegations include the rape of four women alongside multiple counts of assault and drug-related offences.
Hoiby, who was born from a relationship prior to his mother's 2001 marriage to Crown Prince Haakon, could potentially face up to sixteen years imprisonment if convicted on the most serious charges. He has denied all allegations of rape. The royal couple have confirmed they will not attend the seven-week trial proceedings, with Crown Prince Haakon indicating that Mette-Marit will be away on a private trip during this period.
According to palace representatives, the Crown Princess ceased all contact with Epstein in 2014 after concluding he was attempting to "use his relationship with the crown princess as leverage with other people." The convergence of these two separate but deeply damaging situations has created unprecedented challenges for Norway's monarchy, raising fundamental questions about judgement, accountability, and the boundaries between private associations and public duty within modern European royalty.
