Crown Princess Mette-Marit

INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway maintained a close personal friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein from 2011 to 2014, despite his 2008 conviction for child sexual abuse. The 2026 release of Epstein files revealed extensive correspondence between them, including emails where Mette-Marit acknowledged having researched Epstein's background in 2011 and found concerning information ("it didn't look good"), yet continued contact for another three years. She stayed at his Palm Beach residence for several days in 2013 and exchanged emails about social activities. The files showed Epstein had taken photographs of her, allegedly to demonstrate his connections with famous people to potential victims. Upon the public revelation of these documents, Mette-Marit issued a statement expressing deep regret about the friendship and apologizing for the embarrassment caused to the royal family. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store called on her to provide detailed explanations. The royal palace has declined to answer specific questions about what she knew, why contact continued despite his conviction, possible gifts or financial benefits, and the discrepancies in earlier palace statements. No criminal charges, investigations, or civil suits have been brought against Mette-Marit in connection with Epstein.