Norway's crown princess says she was 'manipulated' by Jeffrey Epstein

OSLO: Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit has stated that she was "manipulated" by convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, seeking to explain the nature of their close relationship in a televised interview broadcast on Friday.

Mette-Marit, a commoner who married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001, spoke to public broadcaster NRK in a roughly 20-minute interview in which she addressed her ties to Epstein after her name appeared in newly released Epstein documents made public by the US Department of Justice earlier this year.

The released files revealed a closer-than-expected friendship between the crown princess and Epstein, prompting questions in Norway about whether Mette-Marit is fit to become queen.

"Of course I wish I had never met him."

The crown princess expressed deep regret over the association, telling NRK that she should have been more diligent in examining Epstein's background.

"It is extremely important for me to acknowledge that I did not look into his past more carefully, and also to acknowledge that I was manipulated and deceived to such an extent."

Addressing speculation

During the interview, Mette-Marit also sought to dispel speculation surrounding the nature of her relationship with Epstein. The American financier pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting a minor for prostitution and died in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

The interview marked a significant public address by the crown princess on the matter, as the release of the US Justice Department documents had intensified scrutiny of her past connections to Epstein and fuelled a debate in Norway over the future of the monarchy.

The revelations about the friendship between Mette-Marit and Epstein have been a source of considerable public discussion in Norway, with questions being raised about the implications for her potential role as queen alongside Crown Prince Haakon, who is heir to the Norwegian throne.

By speaking publicly and acknowledging her failure to scrutinise Epstein's past, the crown princess appeared to be making an effort to address the controversy head-on and take responsibility for her association with the disgraced financier.