The Mette-Marit queen poll published on 2 February 2026 suggests that a growing share of Norwegians are questioning whether Crown Princess (kronprinsesse) Mette-Marit should one day become queen, after newly released USA Department of Justice material linked to Jeffrey Epstein reignited scrutiny of her past contacts. In a rapid poll commissioned by TV 2 and conducted by Verian, 47.6% of respondents answered “no” to the question of whether she should become Norway’s future queen.
What the poll says about Mette-Marit’s standing
The headline number is stark: 47.6% say Mette-Marit should not become queen, while 28.9% say “yes” and 23.5% are undecided. The poll was conducted on Monday with 834 respondents, making it a snapshot of public sentiment at the peak of the news cycle rather than a long-term verdict.
Beyond the yes/no question, the same polling package points to a deeper issue for the institution: trust. In the results reported by Norwegian media, 33.1% say they have very little trust in Mette-Marit as a future queen, while only 8.2% report very high trust.
Why the Epstein disclosures hit the whole royal household
Norway’s royal family has been dealing with several overlapping controversies, but the Epstein-related disclosures have a specific institutional impact: they raise questions about judgment, transparency and reputational risk management at the very top of a constitutional monarchy.
Reporting on the newly released files suggests that the extent and tone of Mette-Marit’s contact with Epstein was more extensive than previously understood. The Crown Princess has issued a written apology, acknowledging poor judgment and expressing regret. A key point in the public debate has been whether the timeline of contact presented earlier by the royal household matches what is now visible in the released material.
A wider dip in confidence in the monarchy
The same polling results indicate a sharp rise in the share of respondents who believe the monarchy’s position has weakened in recent years—reported at around 70% in the latest TV 2/Verian measurement. Norwegian commentators have noted that the criticism is not evenly distributed: many respondents appear to direct anger at Mette-Marit while still expressing sympathy for King (konge) Harald and Queen (dronning) Sonja.
The Palace’s response has been notably restrained. According to Norwegian coverage, the royal household’s press contact reiterated a standard line: the Palace does not normally comment on opinion polls.
The timing: a difficult week for the royal family
The poll lands in an already intense moment for the royal household. Mette-Marit’s eldest son, Marius Borg Høiby, is due in court this week on serious charges, which he has denied in the most serious allegations according to reporting. Combined with recent debates around other members of the extended royal family, the effect is cumulative: each new controversy makes it harder for the institution to reset the narrative.
What happens next
In practical terms, Norway’s monarchy is not decided by a single poll. But the latest figures matter because they quantify a shift from discomfort to open doubt about a future queen.
The immediate pressure is likely to focus on clarifying timelines, showing institutional safeguards, and demonstrating that the Palace understands the reputational stakes. Over the longer term, the more consequential question is whether this episode becomes a temporary dip—or another step in a trend where public trust becomes harder to rebuild, even if overall support for the monarchy remains high.
