Summary: Princess Sofia of Sweden missed the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony amid reports that she met convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein "on a few occasions around 2005," according to Swedish media citing the Royal Court. Emails published by Dagens Nyheter show a 2005 introduction from mentor Barbro Ehnbom; the Royal Court says Sofia declined an alleged invitation and has had no contact with Epstein for 20 years. The palace also said Sofia stayed home to care for her newborn daughter. The episode recalls wider fallout experienced by other public figures linked to Epstein.
Epstein Connection Clouds Swedish Princess Sofia as She Skips Nobel Ceremony
Jeffrey Epstein link overshadows another European royal
Editor’s Note: This story discusses child sexual abuse and may be disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. If you suspect a child is being abused, check how to report it in your state. To speak with a counselor, call the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4253.
(NewsNation) — Princess Sofia of Sweden was absent from Wednesday’s Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, a no-show that coincided with renewed scrutiny after Swedish media reported she had met convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on "a few occasions around 2005," according to a statement attributed to the Royal Court.
Princess Sofia, a former model and reality-TV participant who became a member of Sweden’s royal family after marrying Prince Carl Philip in 2015, has been the subject of intense media attention since Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter published emails linking Epstein to Barbro Ehnbom, a Swedish‑American businesswoman described as a mentor to Sofia.
"I thought you might like to meet. Maybe we can visit before you go on holiday?" Ehnbom reportedly wrote in a December 2005 email introducing an "aspiring actress" identified as Sofia.
According to the published correspondence, Epstein replied that he was in the Caribbean and offered to send a ticket for a visit. The Royal Court told reporters that Sofia did not accept the invitation and stressed that she "has not had any contact with the person in question for 20 years." It added that the 41‑year‑old princess stayed home on Wednesday to care for her newborn daughter, Ines, who was born in February.
Epstein, an investor and philanthropist with wide-ranging social connections, was convicted in Florida in 2008 following a controversial plea deal related to solicitation of a minor. He died by suicide in New York in 2019 while awaiting federal charges alleging sex trafficking.
Royal Fallout and Context
The revelations draw inevitable comparisons with the fallout faced by other high-profile figures connected to Epstein. Britain’s Prince Andrew, who had a long association with Epstein beginning in the late 1990s, faced serious public and institutional consequences after allegations surfaced; he reached a civil settlement with one accuser and has seen his public role and some honorary positions removed.
For Princess Sofia, the Royal Court’s statement and the claim that she declined an offer of travel are central to her defense. Still, the story highlights how lingering ties to Epstein continue to reverberate for public figures and royal families across Europe.
Princess Sofia and Prince Carl Philip have four children. The royal household has not indicated further changes to Sofia’s public duties beyond her absence from the Nobel ceremony.
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