Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has publicly agreed with Crown Princess Mette-Marit over her acknowledgment of “poor judgement” in maintaining extensive contact with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The revelation comes after the latest U.S. Department of Justice files on Epstein, which feature the princess hundreds of times in correspondence spanning 2011 to 2014. The emails suggest a warm and ongoing communication, raising questions about her awareness of Epstein’s criminal past — he was a registered sex offender by 2011.
In a statement released on Saturday, Princess Mette-Marit said, “I showed poor judgement and regret having any contact with Epstein at all. It is simply embarrassing.” She also expressed “deep sympathy and solidarity with the victims of the abuses committed by Jeffrey Epstein.”
While Støre did not elaborate further, his agreement is considered an unusual implicit critique for a sitting head of government regarding a member of the royal family. He also commented that former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland had exercised “poor judgement” for planning — but later canceling — a family trip to Epstein’s private island.
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The controversy adds to scrutiny of the Norwegian royal family, already facing multiple public scandals, including the marriage of Crown Prince Haakon’s sister, Princess Märtha Louise, to an American spiritual practitioner.
Further complicating matters, Princess Mette-Marit’s 29-year-old son, Marius Borg Høiby, is about to stand trial in Oslo District Court on 38 charges including rape and assault. The trial, starting Tuesday, will not be attended by any royal family members, though Crown Prince Haakon expressed support, stating, “We care about him, and he is an important member of our family.” Høiby denies the most serious charges, which include allegations of sexual activity with incapacitated women. Conviction could carry a sentence of at least 10 years.
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The Epstein-related revelations include visits by Princess Mette-Marit to Epstein’s Palm Beach home in January 2013 and emails discussing him in a personal context. Commentators in Norway have expressed dismay over the princess’s continued engagement with Epstein, given his criminal history.
Princess Mette-Marit, who suffers from pulmonary fibrosis, is reportedly on a waiting list for a lung transplant, adding a personal health dimension to the unfolding controversy. The case is expected to dominate public attention in Norway as both the Epstein files and her son’s trial converge.