Norway’s Crown Princess caught in Epstein file controversy

The recently released documents related to the abuse scandal involving disgraced U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein have tarnished the reputation of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit.

According to media reports, the 52-year-old is mentioned several hundred times in the documents published by the US Department of Justice on Friday, News.Az reports, citing foreign media.

It became known years ago that Mette-Marit had contact with Epstein.

Particular attention was drawn to email correspondence concerning a visit to Epstein’s estate in Palm Beach, Florida, in 2013.

The palace confirmed to broadcaster NRK that Mette-Marit had borrowed Epstein’s house through a mutual friend.

The crown princess stayed there for four days with a friend, according to Guri Varpe, spokeswoman for the Norwegian royal family.

She also met Epstein during this visit, Varpe said.

However, Mette-Marit never stayed on the multimillionaire’s private island, Little Saint James.

Epstein operated an abuse ring for years, with dozens of young women and minors falling victim. He died in a prison cell in 2019.

The crown princess issued a statement apologising for her relationship with Epstein.

She had shown “poor judgment” and regretted “having had any contact with Epstein at all”.

“It’s just embarrassing,” she continued.

She expressed her “deep sympathy” and solidarity with the victims of the sex offender.

According to the Norwegian newspaper Dagens Næringsliv, Mette-Marit met Epstein several times in the United States and in Oslo in 2011 and 2013.

The publication of the explosive emails comes at a very bad time for the crown princess as her eldest son, Marius Borg Høiby, is due to stand trial on Tuesday.

Høiby is charged with 38 counts, including rape, abuse in close relationships, bodily harm, damage to property and violations of restraining orders.

On the second day of the trial, the 29-year-old is expected to respond to the allegations.

News.Az 

By Ulviyya Salmanli