Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit was previously in contact with Jeffrey Epstein.Image: www.imago-images.de
Feb 6, 2026, 3:04 p.mFeb 6, 2026, 3:04 p.m
Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit (52) has asked for forgiveness in a written statement for her friendship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“It is important to me to say sorry to everyone I have disappointed,” the royal family quoted the Crown Princess as saying on Friday. “Parts of the content of the messages between Epstein and I do not represent the person I would like to be.” She also regrets the situation in which she has brought the royal family – especially King Harald V and Queen Sonja.
In the statement, the Norwegian court began by writing: “We understand the strong reactions to what has become known in the last few days.” Mette-Marit firmly distances herself from Epstein’s attacks and criminal actions. She really regrets not having recognized sooner what kind of person he was.
Royal family: Crown Princess is currently unable to express herself
“The Crown Princess would like to tell what happened and explain herself in more detail,” the statement continued. But she can’t do that right now: “The Crown Princess is in a very difficult situation. She asks for your understanding that she needs time to collect herself.”
The “difficult situation” probably refers to several things. The name of the wife of Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon (52) appears hundreds of times in the files on the Epstein case. The two are said to have been in contact for years and exchanged many private things – even after the US sex offender was convicted for the first time. This sparked a lot of criticism in Norway.
Shortly after the new Epstein information was published, a rape trial against Mette-Marit’s eldest son Marius Borg Høiby (29) began in Oslo this week. The Crown Princess also has a difficult time with her health: she has a chronic lung disease and therefore needs new lungs. (hkl/sda/dpa)