Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit apologizes over past ties to Jeffrey Epstein
Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit has issued a public apology for her past “friendship” with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following the release of case files revealing multiple contacts between them.
In a statement released by the Royal House on Friday, the crown princess expressed regret over the relationship and acknowledged the impact of the revelations.
“I wish to offer a deep apology for my friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. It is important to me to apologize to all of you whom I have disappointed,” she said. “Some of the content of the messages between Epstein and me does not represent the person I want to be.”
She strongly condemned Epstein’s abuse and criminal actions, adding that she was “deeply sorry” for not understanding sooner the kind of person he was. The statement also noted that Mette-Marit intends to speak more fully about the matter but is currently unable to do so, describing her situation as “very demanding” and asking for public understanding as she takes time to gather herself.
Earlier this week, Norwegian broadcaster NRK reported that newly released emails showed the crown princess had been invited at least twice to Epstein’s private island, though there is no evidence she ever visited it. The documents also indicate she visited Epstein’s villa in Florida and that the two exchanged multiple invitations for meals, suggesting repeated contact.
The revelations follow the release of extensive materials by the US Justice Department under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law in November last year by President Donald Trump. The disclosure includes millions of pages of documents, thousands of videos, and hundreds of thousands of images, comprising investigative records, grand jury transcripts and photographs, with many sections redacted to protect victims.
Epstein was found dead by suicide in a New York jail on August 10, 2019, while awaiting trial on federal charges of running a sex trafficking network involving underage girls and women. He was being held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center at the time of his death.
