Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit has spoken publicly for the first time about her ties to Jeffrey Epstein, saying she was "manipulated and deceived." Her comments come after a large release of documents that placed her name repeatedly in correspondence linked to Epstein.

Short answers, long consequences

The royal said she accepts responsibility for not checking Epstein's background more carefully and for being taken in by him. She also said she did not know he was a sex offender or an abuser, despite an email from October 2011 in which she wrote that she had "Googled you" and added "Agreed, it didn't look good :)" She told reporters she cannot fully explain that message and believes she would not have used a smiley face if she had realized what he had done.

Why this matters now

  • Files released in January by the US Department of Justice named many people from Norway's public life, including the crown princess.
  • Parliament action The Norwegian parliament voted unanimously to set up an independent commission to investigate any links between the country's foreign office and Epstein.
  • Frequent mentions Mette-Marit appears nearly 1,000 times in newly released files covering personal emails from 2011 to 2014.

The interview

After several weeks of pressure, including from Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Mette-Marit sat down with broadcaster NRK for a 20-minute interview at the royal residence, Skaugum. Her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, was present.

She described a draining personal period. Her son, Marius Borg Høiby, was finishing the final day of his criminal trial at the time the interview was filmed. He faces more than seven years in prison if convicted on 39 counts, including four rapes, which he denies. The crown princess also has pulmonary fibrosis and said her health requires significant rest and may require a lung transplant.

What she said about Epstein

Mette-Marit called Epstein a "close friend of a good friend" and said they were introduced through mutual acquaintances in 2011 when she was serving as a special envoy for the United Nations AIDS Programme. She described their interaction as a "friendly relationship" and denied any intimate involvement with him.

She confirmed she had stayed in Epstein's Palm Beach home for several days in January 2013. Her explanation was that a mutual friend had borrowed the house. She said this is one of the things she has processed most since the full scope of Epstein's abuses became public in 2019, and that she feels guilt on behalf of the victims.

On accountability and victims

Visibly emotional, the crown princess said she feels "great anger" that Epstein's victims have not received justice. She also said it is important to acknowledge whether her actions in any way helped give Epstein legitimacy.

Looking ahead

The new independent investigation will examine links between Epstein and Norway's foreign office. The revelations have prompted public debate about judgment and responsibility among figures in high positions. Mette-Marit has apologized for poor judgment and expressed deep regret for any contact she had with Epstein, while maintaining that she was deceived.

Key facts:

  • Mette-Marit has acknowledged being manipulated and deceived by Jeffrey Epstein.
  • She says she did not know he was a sex offender, despite previous email references to having "Googled" him in 2011.
  • Norwegian parliament has commissioned an independent inquiry into ties between Epstein and the foreign office.
  • The crown princess appears many times in files from 2011 to 2014 and stayed at Epstein's Palm Beach home in January 2013.
  • The interview came amid pressure from political leaders and during a difficult personal time, including her son's trial and her own health issues.