Norway’s royal family is facing renewed scrutiny after newly released «Epstein files» revealed extensive personal contact between Crown Princess Mette-Marit and the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The disclosures show that Mette-Marit exchanged hundreds of emails with Epstein between 2011 and 2013, some marked by unusually close and informal language. The revelations surfaced days before her eldest son, Marius Borg Høiby, is due to stand trial in Oslo on 38 criminal charges, including rape and sexual assault.
Norwegian media, including NRK, reported that Mette-Marit had researched Epstein’s background as early as 2011 and acknowledged in emails that it «didn’t look too good,» despite later saying she was unaware of the full extent of his crimes. The correspondence also confirms multiple in-person meetings and a four-day stay by the crown princess at Epstein’s Palm Beach estate in 2013, though the royal palace denied she ever visited his private Caribbean island.
Over the weekend, Mette-Marit publicly apologised, admitting she had exercised «poor judgment» and calling her relationship with Epstein «embarrassing» in hindsight. Critics were less forgiving. Veteran editor Harald Stanghelle said the issue went beyond embarrassment, questioning why palace advisers failed to intervene despite the correspondence being conducted via her official royal email account.
The scandal has also widened beyond the royal household. Former foreign minister Borge Brende, now head of the World Economic Forum, issued an apology over inappropriate comments made in messages to Epstein. Former prime minister Thorbjorn Jagland and ex-diplomat Terje Rod-Larsen also faced renewed criticism over past associations, prompting calls for resignations from members of Norway’s Labour Party.
Neither Mette-Marit nor her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, will attend Hoiby’s trial, which begins this week. Despite the mounting controversies, public sympathy has largely centered on King Harald V and the future of Norway’s monarchy, which continues to enjoy broad popular support.
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