Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit publicly admitted she was 'manipulated and deceived' by late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a tearful interview with public broadcaster NRK. The princess expressed deep regret over her friendship with Epstein, which has become one of the biggest scandals involving Norway's royal family.
Key Takeaways
Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit admitted she was 'manipulated and deceived' by late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a tearful interview with NRK. She expressed regret over their friendship, which continued until 2014 despite his 2008 conviction.
The U.S. Justice Department’s release of millions of documents related to Epstein revealed extensive communication between Mette-Marit and Epstein that continued even after his 2008 conviction for soliciting an underage girl. According to TimesLIVE, the princess maintained contact with Epstein from 2011 to 2014 and stayed at his Palm Beach house for four days during a private trip in 2013.
The scandal has triggered criticism from Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who described her judgment as poor. This unusual rebuke comes amid demands for a full account of her interactions with Epstein. The royal family’s popularity has taken a hit, with support dropping from 70% in January to 60%, according to a February survey published by NRK.
The interview occurred on the same day the criminal trial against Mette-Marit's son, Marius Borg Høiby, concluded. Prosecutors have sought a prison sentence of seven years and seven months for the charges against Høiby, who denies the rape allegations. A verdict is expected in early June.
Mette-Marit said she felt unsafe during a 2013 encounter with Epstein at his Palm Beach mansion. She acknowledged that some of her communications with Epstein did not represent the person she wanted to be. The royal family continues to face significant public scrutiny as the trial of her son progresses.
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