Mette-Marit Epstein became the focus of a rare and highly personal public explanation on Friday, as Norway’s Crown Princess said in an interview with NRK that she had been “manipulated and deceived” by Jeffrey Epstein and now wishes she had never met him. Speaking from Skaugum alongside Crown Prince Haakon, Mette-Marit said she takes responsibility for not checking Epstein’s background more carefully and expressed anger that his victims have still not received justice.
Why Mette-Marit chose to speak now about Epstein
The interview came seven weeks after newly released USA justice documents triggered renewed scrutiny of Mette-Marit’s past contact with Epstein, the late American financier and convicted sex offender. The papers showed a broader and more sustained relationship than previously understood, including emails exchanged between 2011 and 2014, meetings in the USA and a stay at a house linked to Epstein in Palm Beach.
NRK said it had requested an interview since late January, after the latest documents became public. The Norwegian royal household agreed to a roughly 20-minute format because of the Crown Princess’s worsening health. Earlier this week, the palace said her chronic pulmonary fibrosis had deteriorated, forcing her to miss an upcoming state visit.
Mette-Marit says the relationship was friendly, not romantic
In the interview, Mette-Marit described the relationship as friendly and rejected suggestions that it had any romantic dimension. She said Epstein had been introduced to her through mutual acquaintances involved in global health and organisational work during a period when she was travelling frequently in the USA as a special representative for UNAIDS.
She said she trusted the judgement of people around her and did not understand at the time who Epstein really was. Referring to the now public emails, she said their tone was “banter” between friends and admitted that some messages now feel embarrassing in retrospect.
The Palm Beach stay and the moment she felt unsafe
One of the most sensitive parts of the interview concerned Mette-Marit’s stay in Palm Beach in January 2013. She said she had gone there because a mutual friend had borrowed the house, and confirmed that she did not pay to stay there. She also said she used Epstein’s driver during the visit and that he paid for a hairdresser on one occasion.
Mette-Marit said that on the final day of the stay, Epstein put her in a situation that made her feel unsafe, prompting her to call Haakon in Norway. She did not describe the episode in detail, and NRK said its understanding is that it did not involve an assault. Crown Prince Haakon said he clearly remembers the call and said it was one of the moments that made it clear Epstein did not mean her well.
Why contact with Epstein continued and why it ended
The Crown Princess acknowledged that she remained in contact with Epstein for some time even after feeling uncomfortable around him. She said that with time she has come to see more clearly how manipulated she was, and that the relationship lasted longer than she now believes it should have.
According to Mette-Marit, the connection ended in 2014 after a combination of troubling episodes and rumours that Epstein was “not a good person”. She said she still did not know the full extent of his crimes at that stage, but had understood enough to break contact. She also said she now regrets not warning more people about him after the relationship ended.
Haakon and Støre back the decision to address the scandal
Crown Prince Haakon took part in the interview and confirmed that he knew about the friendship, the Palm Beach stay and a brief meeting with Epstein during a family holiday in St. Barths. He said the contact was never hidden within the couple and defended his wife, stressing the strength of their relationship and saying he would always want her “on the team” when life becomes difficult.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre also welcomed the decision to speak publicly. According to comments reported by Norwegian media, he said he respected the fact that the Crown Princess had agreed to be interviewed by NRK and that it was wise to shed light on the matter.
A monarchy already under pressure in Norway
The interview lands at a difficult moment for the Norwegian monarchy. The Epstein revelations have added to a broader period of institutional pressure, including the high-profile criminal trial involving Mette-Marit’s son Marius Borg Høiby, whose case concluded this week with a verdict expected later.
Reuters reported in February that Støre had already criticised the Crown Princess’s judgement over the Epstein contact, while recent polling cited by Norwegian media has shown falling support for the monarchy. In that context, Friday’s interview appeared designed not only to answer questions about the past, but also to contain further damage to the royal family’s credibility.
For now, Mette-Marit’s message is one of regret rather than defence. She said she is angry on behalf of Epstein’s victims, ashamed that she may have helped give him legitimacy, and aware that public trust in the monarchy has been shaken. Whether that explanation will be enough to stabilise the institution is likely to remain a political and public question in Norway over the coming weeks.
