Key takeaway: Crown Princess Mette-Marit apologised after newly released U.S. Justice Department files appeared to show email contact with Jeffrey Epstein after his 2008 conviction. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said he agreed she had shown poor judgement and urged those named in the documents to explain their contacts. The revelations add pressure to a royal family already facing health challenges and a pending high-profile trial involving Mette-Marit's son.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit Admits 'Poor Judgement' Over Epstein Contacts — PM Calls For Clarification
The Crown Princess of Norway, Mette-Marit looks on during the celebrations of the Norwegian Constitution Day at Skaugum, Norway, May 17, 2023. NTB/Lise Aserud/via REUTERS
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said on Monday that Crown Princess Mette-Marit showed "poor judgement" by maintaining contact with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after his 2008 conviction, following the release of new U.S. Justice Department documents that include email correspondence between the two.
New Documents and Apology
Files published by the U.S. Justice Department late last week include extensive emails between Mette-Marit and Epstein that date to the period after his 2008 conviction for child sex crimes. On Saturday the crown princess, who is married to Crown Prince Haakon, issued an apology conveyed via the royal palace, saying she had failed to investigate Epstein's background and now "deeply regrets" having had any contact with him.
"I must take responsibility for not having investigated Epstein's background more thoroughly, and for not realising sooner what kind of person he was," Mette-Marit said. "I deeply regret this, and it is a responsibility I must bear. I showed poor judgement and regret having had any contact with Epstein at all. It is simply embarrassing."
Political Reaction
Prime Minister Støre said he agreed with the crown princess's assessment. Asked whether he had contacted the royal palace about the revelations, he said he had not. He also urged Mette-Marit and other prominent Norwegians named in the documents to clarify the extent of their interactions with Epstein.
"I am really using her own words. She says she has showed bad judgement. I agree and I think it is worth saying that when I am asked my opinion about this," Støre told reporters. "We have seen that the information that has emerged has shed more light on the matter than what has been said before. It may perhaps be reasonable to say that they should explain the extent of the contacts that have taken place."
Royal Family Under Strain
The publication of the documents arrives at a difficult moment for Norway's royal household. Mette-Marit's son, Marius — from a relationship before her marriage to Crown Prince Haakon — was due to stand trial on charges including rape and domestic violence. The family has also faced health and public-relations challenges: King Harald, 88, reduced his public duties in 2024 after hospital treatment and receiving a pacemaker, and Mette-Marit has been listed for a lung transplant after a 2018 diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis.
Other recent controversies include Princess Märtha Louise stepping back from official duties in 2022 to pursue private ventures and criticism over a Netflix documentary featuring the princess and her husband.
Public Opinion
Despite recent difficulties, Norway's largely low-key monarchy retains broad support. A Norstat poll for public broadcaster NRK, conducted among 1,030 people in January and published before the latest documents, found roughly 70% of respondents supported the monarchy as an institution.
Reporting by Gwladys Fouche; editing and additional context by the newsroom.
Help us improve.
