Norway’s crown princess, Mette-Marit, has issued a public apology after newly released US justice department documents indicated that she maintained a prolonged correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in custody in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex crimes.
The papers, unsealed on Friday as part of a fresh release of material linked to Epstein’s activities, reportedly contain hundreds of references to the princess, including email exchanges spanning several years. Norwegian media said the correspondence dated from 2011 to 2014, well after Epstein had pleaded guilty in Florida to offences involving a minor.
In a statement issued through the royal palace on Saturday, Mette-Marit acknowledged the relationship and admitted that she had exercised “poor judgment”. She said she regretted having had any contact with Epstein and described the episode as “embarrassing”, adding that she wished to express her sympathy for his victims.
The disclosures arrive at an acutely sensitive moment for Norway’s royal family. On Tuesday, a criminal trial is due to begin in Oslo involving the crown princess’s eldest son, Marius Borg Høiby, who faces dozens of charges, including allegations of rape, assault and drug offences. Høiby, who was born before his mother’s marriage to Crown Prince Haakon and holds no royal title, has denied the most serious accusations. If convicted, he could face a lengthy prison sentence.
According to reports, the newly released files include informal and at times playful exchanges between Mette-Marit and Epstein, with references to plans to meet and expressions of warmth. The documents also suggest that she stayed for several days at Epstein’s Palm Beach property in 2013, although he was said not to have been present at the time.
Royal officials stressed that inclusion in the files did not imply criminal conduct. They said the princess had broken off written contact in 2014 after becoming concerned that Epstein was attempting to trade on his association with her.
In her statement, Mette-Marit accepted responsibility for failing to investigate Epstein’s background more thoroughly and for not grasping sooner “what kind of person he was”. The files nonetheless appear to include an earlier message in which she told Epstein she had searched for information about him online and found it troubling.
The Norwegian palace confirmed that neither the crown princess nor Crown Prince Haakon is expected to attend the opening of Høiby’s trial, with Mette-Marit scheduled to be away on a private trip. The court case, the palace said previously, is a matter for the judiciary alone.
