In her first interview about her long-term association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway revealed that she felt “manipulated and deceived” by Epstein.
The interview, conducted with Norwegian broadcaster NRK, marks the Princess’s response to growing scrutiny following the release of emails between her and Epstein, which were made public in February by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Mette-Marit’s Admission and Regret
Mette-Marit, who is married to Crown Prince Haakon, explained that she had no knowledge of Epstein’s criminal background during the time they were in contact.
However, she did admit that after learning about his conviction in 2008 for soliciting sex from underage girls, she had Googled him in 2011. Despite this, she continued to interact with him, which she now deeply regrets.
“I did not know he was a sex offender or an abuser,” Mette-Marit stated. “But if I had known, I would not have stayed in contact with him.” She said that she now wishes she had never met him, emphasizing the pain and guilt she feels, especially considering Epstein’s victims.
The Push for Accountability
Mette-Marit’s decision to speak out comes amid growing pressure from Norwegian lawmakers, including Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who have called for a deeper investigation into the connections between Epstein and Norway’s foreign office. On March 20, the Norwegian Parliament voted to create an independent commission to look into these ties.
In her interview, Mette-Marit acknowledged that her judgment was poor in maintaining contact with Epstein, reflecting on the intense scrutiny she has faced. “It’s incredibly important for me to take responsibility for not checking his background more carefully,” she said. “And to take responsibility for being so manipulated and deceived as I was.”
The Emotional Toll and Personal Struggles
The Crown Princess also spoke about her personal challenges, including the legal troubles her oldest son, Marius Borg Høiby, is facing. Høiby is currently facing seven years in prison for 39 charges, including four counts of rape.
Mette-Marit mentioned how the situation had added emotional strain to her life, alongside her own health issues, including pulmonary fibrosis, for which she may need a lung transplant.
“I am the mother of a young man who has been in a very demanding situation,” she said, before discussing her health struggles. “In addition, I have health that requires a lot of rest.”
The Relationship with Epstein
Mette-Marit and Epstein were introduced through mutual acquaintances in 2011 when she served as a special envoy for the United Nations Aids Program.
During their correspondence, she expressed doubt about Epstein’s background in a 2011 email, writing, “Googled you after the previous email. Agreed, it didn’t look good :),” after his 2008 conviction.
In the interview, Mette-Marit recalled her confusion over the situation, admitting that if she had known more about his criminal background, she would never have communicated with him in such a casual manner.
“I wish I had the rest of that email correspondence,” she said, further noting, “If I had found information that made me realize that he was an abuser and sex offender, I wouldn’t have written a smiley face.”
A Visit to Epstein’s Home
In 2013, Mette-Marit stayed at Epstein’s home in Palm Beach, a decision she now deeply regrets. She stated that a mutual friend had borrowed the house, which is how she came to stay there. After learning about Epstein’s criminal activities in 2019, she said the visit weighed heavily on her conscience.
“The fact that I have been there and, not least, have a sense of guilt for the victims. I have spent a lot of time processing this. So, it is very difficult for me personally,” she explained.
While staying at Epstein’s property, Mette-Marit recounted an incident that left her feeling uneasy, but she did not elaborate on the details, other than to say she called her husband, Haakon, about the situation.
Haakon confirmed that he remembered the call and that it made Mette-Marit feel “unsafe.” Despite this, she continued to maintain a friendship with Epstein until she ultimately chose to sever all contact.
“I am overly trusting, I tend to think the best of people,” she explained. “But I also chose to end all direct contact with him. And it was because of such episodes as that.”
