Crown Princess’s Alarming Epstein Friendship Exposed

Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit maintained a three-year friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein despite knowing about his criminal background, exposing the royal family to what historians are calling the Norwegian monarchy’s worst crisis in history.

Story Overview

Newly unsealed DOJ documents reveal over 1,000 mentions of Crown Princess Mette-Marit in Epstein files from 2011-2014
Princess admitted she “googled” Epstein in 2011 and acknowledged “it didn’t look too good” but proceeded with friendship anyway
Palace repeatedly misled the public about the relationship, falsely claiming meetings were by chance and ended in 2013
Scandal compounds ongoing royal family crisis as princess’s son faces rape trial on 38 charges
Norwegian Prime Minister publicly criticized the princess’s judgment as experts question whether she can become queen

Royal Relationship with Convicted Offender Spans Three Years

Crown Princess Mette-Marit maintained regular contact with Jeffrey Epstein from 2011 through 2014, years after his 2008 conviction for procuring a minor for prostitution became widely publicized in Norwegian media. The relationship included frequent emails, planned meetings in Saint Barthélemy, and a four-day stay at Epstein’s Palm Beach, Florida residence in 2013. Unsealed Department of Justice documents released in early February 2026 contain over 1,000 references to the crown princess, revealing an extent of contact far beyond what the palace previously acknowledged. The princess issued a statement calling her actions “embarrassing” and admitting she “showed poor judgment,” but the apology comes seven years after initial reports surfaced.

Palace Deception Compounds Royal Accountability Crisis

The Norwegian Royal Palace repeatedly misrepresented the nature and timeline of Mette-Marit’s relationship with Epstein, undermining public trust in the institution. In 2019, palace officials claimed the contact was limited to 2011-2013 and characterized a meeting in Saint Barthélemy as a chance encounter. The 2026 document release exposed both claims as false, revealing the friendship continued through 2014 and the St. Barts meeting was deliberately planned. Palace spokesperson Guri Varpe provided inaccurate details that misled both media and the public. This pattern of institutional dishonesty raises serious questions about the monarchy’s commitment to transparency and accountability, core principles that should guide any public institution supported by taxpayer funds.

Princess Knowingly Pursued Friendship Despite Criminal Awareness

Perhaps most troubling is evidence showing Mette-Marit proceeded with the relationship despite explicit awareness of Epstein’s problematic background. A 2011 email reveals she told Epstein she had “googled” him and acknowledged “it didn’t look too good,” yet she added a smiling emoji and continued building the friendship. The documents show familiar exchanges, including Epstein suggesting wallpaper featuring “two naked women” for the princess. This wasn’t ignorance or naivety—it was a conscious decision by a future queen consort to associate with a convicted sex offender, prioritizing personal convenience and elite social connections over basic moral judgment and respect for victims of sexual exploitation.

Monarchy Faces Unprecedented Crisis as Experts Question Future

Royal historian Lars Hovbakke Sørensen characterized the scandal as “the most severe crisis in Norwegian monarchy history,” warning that insufficient transparency risks irreparable damage to public confidence. Academic Carl-Erik Grimstad criticized the royal court for failing its duty to monitor and prevent such associations, noting “alarm bells should have rung.” Even Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre publicly agreed with assessments of the princess’s poor judgment, signaling cross-party concern about the monarchy’s future. The scandal occurs as the princess’s son, Marius Borg Høiby, faces trial on 38 charges including rape, creating a compounding crisis that has Norwegian media openly questioning whether Mette-Marit can become queen. For conservative observers, this represents yet another example of elite privilege and institutional cover-ups that betray the trust of ordinary citizens.