Sex og samfunn has ended its collaboration with Crown Princess (kronprinsesse) Mette-Marit as high patron (høy beskytter) of Skamløsprisen, saying the information already public about her past contact with Jeffrey Epstein is incompatible with what the prize stands for. The decision, announced on 2 February 2026 after an emergency meeting, is one of the first concrete institutional consequences in Norway beyond political criticism and media scrutiny.
Decision after an emergency meeting
According to a written statement sent to VG, Sex og samfunn decided on Monday afternoon to stop working with Mette-Marit in her role as the prize’s high patron. The organisation said the decision was taken with consideration for its patients, for survivors of sexual abuse, and for those working to prevent sexual violence.
Sex og samfunn also stressed that it does not yet know “everything” about the broader case, but argued that what has already been made public is irreconcilable with Skamløsprisen’s purpose.
Why Skamløsprisen is central to Sex og samfunn’s mission
Skamløsprisen (literally “the shame-free prize”) is intended to highlight individuals, organisations or groups that have encouraged courage and openness about taboo or stigmatised topics related to sexuality. In Sex og samfunn’s own framing, the prize aims to push back against shame and stigma and to increase visibility and knowledge around sexual health.
That framing matters in this specific decision: the organisation explicitly linked the break to its responsibility toward survivors and to the credibility of a prize meant to support openness around sexuality and sexual harm.
A test case for the Crown Princess’s other patronages
Mette-Marit currently holds a broad portfolio of royal patronages—22 listed by the Royal House (Det Norske Kongehus). The Sex og samfunn decision is therefore being read in Norway as a potential test case: whether other organisations will reassess their own relationship with the Crown Princess, or adopt a wait-and-see approach.
Several organisations contacted by Norwegian media have said it is too early to conclude, while acknowledging the seriousness of the matter. Some have pointed to upcoming board meetings where the issue may be discussed.
What this update changes—and what it doesn’t
This is not a legal development, but it is a measurable reputational shift: a civil-society actor working directly with sexual health services has decided that the Crown Princess can no longer represent a prize tied to anti-stigma work.
For the royal household, the broader challenge remains one of public trust and institutional legitimacy. But this decision adds a new dimension: the fallout is now affecting practical relationships between the Crown Princess and organisations in Norwegian public life.
In the days ahead, attention is likely to focus on whether more patronage partners follow Sex og samfunn’s lead—and on how the Palace responds if the pressure spreads beyond a single prize.
