Norway crown princess says she was ‘manipulated’ by Epstein

In her first public comments since her name surfaced in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit told broadcaster NRK she was 'manipulated and deceived' by the convicted sex offender. The roughly 20-minute interview, broadcast Friday, was a direct response to the release of US Department of Justice documents earlier this year, which showed multiple mentions of the princess and detailed an 'unexpectedly close friendship' with Epstein. Mette-Marit, a commoner who married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001, expressed regret, stating, 'Of course I wish I had never met him,' and acknowledged failing to properly investigate his past.

The revelation has triggered a significant political and public relations crisis for the Norwegian monarchy. Recent opinion polls indicate that a majority of Norwegians now oppose the idea of Mette-Marit ascending to the role of queen consort, directly challenging her future position. During the interview, she also sought to 'squash speculation' about the nature of their relationship with Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking. The fallout from this association continues to raise profound questions about judgment and the future stability of the royal household in Norway.