Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway Says She 'Deeply Regrets' Connection with Jeffrey Epstein amid Email Release
- - Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway Says She 'Deeply Regrets' Connection with Jeffrey Epstein amid Email Release
Janine HenniFebruary 2, 2026 at 11:33 PM
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(Left) Crown Princess Mette-Marit visits Fredrikstad Library on Jan. 28, 2026; (Right) Jeffrey Epstein in 2004
Rune Hellestad - Corbis/Corbis via Getty; Rick Friedman/Corbis via Getty
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway released a statement about her ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein
The Crown Princess of Norway, 52, spoke out after the U.S. Department of Justice released new files, including emails between her and Epstein
Mette-Marit said the association was "simply embarrassing"
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway is speaking out about her "regret" surrounding her links to the late Jeffrey Epstein.
Crown Prince Haakon's wife, 52, spoke out after the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released over three million additional pages related to the Epstein Files Transparency Act on Jan. 30, including extensive email correspondence between her and Epstein. In a statement first reported by NRK and shared with PEOPLE by the Royal House, the Crown Princess apologized for her ties to the disgraced American financier, who died in prison while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges in August 2019.
"Jeffrey Epstein is solely responsible for his actions. I must take responsibility for not having investigated Epstein’s background more thoroughly, and for not realizing sooner what kind of person he was. I deeply regret this, and it is a responsibility I must bear. I showed poor judgment and regret having had any contact with Epstein at all. It is simply embarrassing," Crown Princess Mette-Marit said in the statement. "I wish to express my deep sympathy and solidarity with the victims of the abuse committed by Jeffrey Epstein."
(Left) Crown Princess Mette-Marit in January 2018; (Right) Jeffrey Epstein in May 2005. Nigel Waldron/Getty; Neil Rasmus/Patrick McMullan via Getty
Norwegian newspaper VG reported that Crown Princess Mette-Marit was mentioned in over one thousand files released by the DOJ on Jan. 30. A preliminary review by the outlet found "contact and meetings" between her and Epstein between 2011 and 2013, and VG said their communication continued into 2014.
Emails between the Norwegian princess and Epstein seemed to reveal a friendship between them, including a notable correspondence where the Crown Princess told Epstein in 2011 she "Googled" him and mentioned that "it didn’t look too good" with a smiling emoji, The Guardian reported. The outlet added their emails regularly mentioned plans to get together, with files indicating that Mette-Marit stayed at his Palm Beach home for four days in 2013 when he wasn't there.
In an October 2012 email exchange, the two discussed Epstein's search for a wife.
"What is the weather like? I am on my wife hunt. Paris is proving interesting, but I prefer Scandinavians," Epstein wrote.
"Freezing [sic] Snow Yesterday," Mette-Marit wrote back. "Paris good for adultery [sic] Scandis better wife material." She added that "But then again [sic] Who am I to talk?"
In a Nov. 12, 2012 email, the Crown Princess called Epstein "such a sweetheart" after he asked about how she was feeling and said "St. Barts will be fun."
In an email exchange dated the following day, Mette-Marit wrote to Epstein, "U are very charming u know" as they talked about colors, and she then asked, "Is it inappropriate for a mother to suggest two naked women carrying a surfboard for my 15 yr old sons wallpaper ?"
In November 2012, Crown Princess Mette-Marit's son Marius Borg Høiby would have been 15 years old. Mette-Marit welcomed her son Marius, 29, during a relationship prior to her marriage to Crown Prince Haakon in 2001, and the royal couple later had two children, future heir to the throne Princess Ingrid Alexandra, now 21, and Prince Sverre Magnus, now 20.
Norway's Princess Ingrid Alexandra (front C) poses for a family photo with (front L and R) Norway's King Harald V and Norway's Queen Sonja and (back LtoR) Marit Tjessem, Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Norway's Crown Prince Haakon, Norway's Prince Sverre Magnus and Marius Borg Hoiby on the occasion of a gala dinner for her 18th birthday in Oslo on June 17, 2022.
LISE ASERUD/NTB/AFP via Getty
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On Tuesday, Feb. 3, Marius is set to head to an upcoming trial in Oslo on 38 charges, including four counts of rape. On Monday, Feb. 2, ABC News reported that he was arrested on Feb. 1 and was accused of assault, threats with a knife and violating a restraining order.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit previously disavowed her association with Epstein and said that she regretted their relationship in December 2019. She spoke out after the now-former Prince Andrew announced that he was stepping back from his royal role after his bombshell BBC interview about his ties to Epstein.
The former Duke of York and his family were listed in the latest trove of Epstein emails, shedding further light on their links. King Charles' brother has continuously denied any wrongdoing.
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