Royal Scandal: Princess Tied to Epstein

Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit maintained a years-long friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein despite knowing about his criminal past, newly unsealed Department of Justice documents reveal, exposing a royal scandal that threatens the monarchy’s credibility and raising serious questions about elite accountability.

Story Highlights

Over 1,000 references to Crown Princess Mette-Marit found in unsealed DOJ Epstein files, revealing extensive contact from 2011 to 2014
Princess admitted in 2011 email she “googled” Epstein and knew “it didn’t look too good,” yet pursued friendship anyway
Royal palace caught lying about timeline and circumstances of meetings, initially claiming limited 2011-2013 contact
Scandal compounds family crisis as princess’s son faces rape trial on 38 charges this week
Norwegian historians call it the “most severe crisis in Norwegian monarchy history” amid growing questions about her fitness to become queen

Royal Judgment Failure After Epstein’s Conviction

Crown Princess Mette-Marit initiated and maintained contact with Jeffrey Epstein beginning in 2011, three years after his widely publicized 2008 conviction for procuring a minor for prostitution. Norwegian media had extensively covered Epstein’s crimes, labeling him a “convicted pedophile” before the princess began the relationship. A 2011 email from Mette-Marit to Epstein demonstrates she performed due diligence, writing that she “googled” him and acknowledged “it didn’t look too good,” yet included a smiling emoji and continued the friendship. This decision reflects a troubling disregard for the gravity of associating with a known sex offender.

Extensive Contact and Palace Deception Exposed

The DOJ files reveal over 1,000 mentions of Mette-Marit’s name, extensive email correspondence, and multiple meetings between 2011 and 2014. The princess stayed four days at Epstein’s Palm Beach, Florida residence in 2013, arranged through a mutual friend. Personal emails showed disturbing familiarity, including a 2012 message where Epstein suggested wallpaper featuring “two naked women.” The royal palace initially claimed in 2019 that contact was limited and ended in 2013, describing a Saint Barthélemy meeting as a chance encounter. February 2026 document releases proved these statements false, exposing the relationship continued through 2014 and meetings were preplanned, not coincidental.

Institutional Failure and Cover-Up Attempts

The scandal reveals systematic institutional failures beyond individual judgment. Palace spokesperson Guri Varpe repeatedly issued inaccurate statements about the timeline and nature of contacts, suggesting either incompetence or deliberate obfuscation. Royal historian Carl-Erik Grimstad stated the royal court failed its duty to monitor associations, noting “alarm bells should have rung.” This represents a breakdown in basic oversight mechanisms meant to protect the monarchy’s integrity. Unlike Prince Andrew who resigned royal duties in 2019 over similar associations, Mette-Marit maintained contact for years after Epstein’s conviction while positioned to become Norway’s queen consort.

Compounding Crisis for Norwegian Monarchy

The Epstein revelations arrive amid multiple royal family troubles, including Mette-Marit’s son Marius Borg Høiby facing trial this week on 38 charges including rape. Royal historian Lars Hovbakke Sørensen declared this the “most severe crisis in Norwegian monarchy history,” warning insufficient transparency risks permanent confidence loss. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre publicly agreed with assessments of the princess’s poor judgment, signaling cross-party concern. Major outlet Aftenposten published commentary questioning “Can Mette-Marit become queen?” The scandal fuels republican sentiments in egalitarian Norway, where the monarchy’s continued relevance faces growing skepticism. Americans watching should recognize familiar patterns of elite privilege and institutional protection that transcend borders.