Norwegian Crown Princess Admits Being 'Manipulated and Deceived' by Epstein
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway has publicly confessed to being "manipulated and deceived" by the notorious billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein in a deeply emotional and explosive television interview. The royal's candid admission arrives amidst intense public scrutiny and just as her son's high-profile rape trial draws to a dramatic close.
An Emotional Royal Confession
Appearing on a major Norwegian news programme, the visibly distressed princess stated she profoundly regrets ever meeting the convicted sex offender. "I feel so manipulated, and when you are manipulated, you don't realise it from the start," Mette-Marit revealed, fighting back tears during the interview filmed at the Skaugum royal residence. "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."
The crown princess emphasised her ignorance of Epstein's criminal activities during their association. "I didn't know he was a sex offender or a predator," she insisted, noting the friendship occurred roughly fifteen years ago. She expressed immense anger that Epstein's many victims have yet to receive full justice for the horrific abuse they endured.
Revelations from the Epstein Files and a Troubling Visit
The princess's name surfaced in the infamous Epstein files, with email correspondence suggesting a years-long connection between 2011 and 2014. The interview delved into a particularly troubling 2013 visit to Epstein's Palm Beach, Florida home, where Mette-Marit stayed for several days.
She described an unsettling "situation" on the final day of that visit, which prompted her to immediately telephone her husband, Crown Prince Haakon. The prince, who was present for the interview, confirmed he remembered the call vividly and how it left his wife feeling profoundly insecure. Despite this alarming episode, the crown princess acknowledged maintaining contact with Epstein for a period afterwards.
"I am overly trusting, I tend to think the best of people," she explained regarding her prolonged association. "But I also chose to end all direct contact with him. And it was because of such episodes as that."
Mounting Political and Public Pressure
Mette-Marit's decision to speak out follows mounting pressure, including direct calls for an explanation from Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. The revelation that she exchanged hundreds of emails with the disgraced financier and stayed at his Florida property in his absence forced the royal into a defensive public position.
Son's Concurrent Rape Trial Reaches Conclusion
The timing of the interview is highly significant, coinciding with the final day of the weeks-long rape trial of the princess's 29-year-old son, Marius Borg Høiby. Høiby has pleaded not guilty to four separate charges of rape.
However, he has admitted guilt to several other serious charges, including:
- Multiple driving offences
- An aggravated drugs offence
- Violating a restraining order
- Partially to charges of threats and aggravated assault
State Attorney Sturla Henriksbø has labelled the case "very serious," asserting that Høiby's status within the royal family should not afford him any special legal leniency. A conviction on the rape charges could result in a prison sentence of up to ten years.
The Norwegian royal family did not attend any court proceedings, issuing a pre-trial statement expressing their thoughts for all parties involved and acknowledging the difficult time for those affected. The confluence of these two major scandals has placed the Norwegian monarchy under an unprecedented spotlight.
