Epstein Links Rock Norway Royals as PM Slams Crown Princess
Norway’s royal family faces fresh scandal as Epstein files expose contacts with Crown Princess Mette-Marit, sparking outrage and political fallout.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has said he agrees with Crown Princess Mette-Marit's "poor judgment" after it emerged that she had extensive contact with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The princess is mentioned hundreds of times between 2011 and 2014 in the latest files released by the US Department of Justice related to Epstein.
This latest embarrassment for the royal family comes just before her son's seven-week trial in Oslo on 38 charges, including rape and assault.
Princess Mette-Marit married Norway's Crown Prince Haakon as a civilian when their son, Marius Borg Høiby, was four years old, and will become queen when her husband ascends the throne.
As news of their email conversations began to surface, the princess issued a statement on Saturday, saying: "I made poor judgment and regret having any contact with Epstein. This is truly shameful."
He further expressed his "deepest sympathy and solidarity with the victims of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse."
Although the Prime Minister did not say much more than agree with the Princess's poor judgment, his indirect criticism is considered unusual.
Støre also said he believed former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland also exercised "poor judgment" when it emerged that he had planned a family vacation on Epstein's private island, though he later canceled it.
The latest trove of Epstein files reveals that Princess Mette-Marit spent four days at Epstein's home in Palm Beach, Miami, in January 2013; and in an email from HRH Crown Princess's account, Epstein was asked if a mother should suggest nude women holding surfboards for her son's wallpaper.
The warmth of this conversation has surprised Norwegian commentators, and a message suggests they were aware of his initial prison sentence in 2008.
The Norwegian royal family has been embroiled in several scandals recently, including the marriage of the Crown Prince's sister, Princess Märtha Louise, to a self-proclaimed American occultist.
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As Norwegians prepare for Marius Borg Høiby's trial, questions are being raised about their mother's failure to understand the dangerous nature of maintaining contact with Epstein and the role of her advisors. Mette-Marit suffers from pulmonary fibrosis, and her doctors are preparing to list her for a lung transplant.
Her 29-year-old son, who is not part of the royal family, denies the most serious allegations against him. One of the rape allegations involves having sex with a woman while she was sleeping. Three other charges involve sexual assault while women were unconscious, which is considered rape in Norway.
If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.
No member of the royal family will attend the trial, which begins on Tuesday at Oslo District Court.
However, in an emotional statement to reporters last week, Crown Prince Haakon said, "Our thoughts are with all those affected by this case... We understand this is a difficult time for many of you, and we sympathize."
Although his stepson was not a member of the royal family, he said: "We care for him, and he is an important member of our family."
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