Crown Princess Mette-Marit Faces Controversy Over Epstein Links
Since her marriage to Norway's royal family in 2001, Mette-Marit has been viewed as a progressive figure, bridging the gap between tradition and modernity. However, the 52-year-old crown princess is now embroiled in a significant scandal linked to her past connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The controversy erupted following the release of extensive documents by the U.S. Department of Justice, which detailed Epstein's extensive network. Among the names mentioned was Mette-Marit, revealing that her ties to Epstein were more extensive than previously acknowledged.
According to these documents, the crown princess maintained contact with Epstein from 2011 to 2014, years after his 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor. Notably, she visited his Palm Beach residence during a private trip in 2013, raising serious questions about her judgment.
In a recent interview aired by a national broadcaster, Mette-Marit reflected on her past interactions with Epstein, acknowledging that she should have exercised greater caution. She expressed feeling misled by him and accepted accountability for her decisions. "I feel so manipulated, and when you are manipulated, you don't realize it from the start," she stated. Furthermore, she emphasized the importance of taking responsibility for not investigating his background more thoroughly.
She also remarked, "Of course I wish I had never met him," and underscored that justice should be served for Epstein's victims, stating, "It’s all the victims who’ve been subjected to these serious abuses who deserve justice." Mette-Marit is mentioned nearly 1,000 times in the released documents, including personal email exchanges from 2011 to 2014. In one email, she questioned whether it was inappropriate for a mother to suggest wallpaper featuring two naked women carrying a surfboard for her son.
The royal palace previously issued a statement where Mette-Marit acknowledged her "poor judgment" and expressed "deep regret" for any contact with Epstein, but she has largely refrained from public comments since then. This interview coincided with the conclusion of a trial involving her son, Marius Borg Høiby, who faces serious charges, including multiple counts of rape, which he denies.
Mette-Marit, who suffers from pulmonary fibrosis and requires a lung transplant, mentioned, "I am the mother of a young man who has been in a very demanding situation," adding that her health has necessitated more rest.
She described her relationship with Epstein as "friendly," clarifying that he was primarily "a friend of a friend." She denied any implications of intimacy between them. One of the most scrutinized emails was from October 2011, where she noted, "Googled you after the previous email. Agreed, it didn’t look good :)." When questioned about this comment, she admitted uncertainty, stating, "I spent a lot of time trying to figure that out myself. I wish I had the rest of that email correspondence. But if I had found information that made me realize that he was an abuser and sex offender, I wouldn’t have written a smiley face."
Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby was born in Vågsbygd, Kristiansand, as the youngest of four siblings. She is the daughter of Marit Tjessem and Sven Olaf Bjarte Høiby. Together with Crown Prince Haakon, she has three children: Marius Borg Høiby, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, and Prince Sverre Magnus. Their engagement was announced on December 1, 2000, and they married at Oslo Cathedral on August 25, 2001. They later moved to Skaugum Estate in Asker in December 2003.
In the spring of 2003, Mette-Marit pursued studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, focusing on various development issues, including HIV/AIDS and the global refugee crisis. She also spent three months observing at the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad).
In autumn 2008, she began part-time studies at BI Norwegian School of Management in Oslo, completing her Master of Management in 2012. In her free time, she enjoys reading and has a passion for art, design, film, and theatre, as well as spending time outdoors in nature.