BREAKING NEWS! Crown Prince Couple Speaks Out About Epstein Connection
Photo: VG
In a major interview with NRK, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon speak for the first time in detail about the Crown Princess's contact with Jeffrey Epstein. The Crown Princess says she was manipulated and deceived.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon have for the first time given a major interview about the Crown Princess's contact with Jeffrey Epstein. The interview was conducted by NRK at Skaugum and was published on March 20. The couple sat together throughout the conversation, which lasted approximately one hour.
The Crown Princess began by saying that the family has been in a very demanding situation in recent weeks, and that the focus has primarily been on the family. She is a mother to a young man who has been in a difficult situation, and her health has also required a lot of rest. Her illness has progressed further, and she needs significant recovery time.
Crown Prince Haakon confirmed that a lot has happened at once for the family. He emphasised that the most important thing for them has been to be caregivers, and that it is only natural that this has taken time.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit during the NRK interview at Skaugum. Photo: VG
The Crown Princess said she wished she had never met Epstein, but that it is important for her to take responsibility for not checking his background more carefully. She explained that she was introduced to Epstein through a close friend, and that she trusted this friend's judgement. There was no reason for her not to trust them.
The Crown Princess described the relationship with Epstein as friendly. He was a friend of a friend, first and foremost. She denied that the relationship was of any other nature.
NRK confronted the Crown Princess with an email from 2011, in which she wrote to Epstein that she had googled him. When asked what she found, the Crown Princess answered that she does not remember, as it was 15 years ago. She said she has spent a lot of time trying to figure this out herself, and wished she still had the rest of the email correspondence. The Crown Princess said she is convinced that if she had found information revealing that Epstein was an abuser, she would not have written a smiley face back.
In 2013, the Crown Princess borrowed Epstein's house in Palm Beach. At that time, he had already been convicted in a prostitution case involving a minor. The Crown Princess explained that a mutual friend had borrowed the house, which was why she went there. She said that having been there is something she has spent the most time processing since the serious abuse became known in 2019. The guilt towards the victims has been extremely difficult to bear.
The interview also revealed that Epstein on one occasion behaved in a way that made the Crown Princess feel unsafe. On the last day, a situation arose that caused her to call Crown Prince Haakon. The Crown Prince confirmed that he remembers the conversation, and that it was a situation that made the Crown Princess feel somewhat unsafe. Despite this episode, Mette-Marit continued to have contact with Epstein for some time afterwards. She explained that she believes this was because Epstein was highly manipulative, exploiting the fact that they had a mutual friend. The Crown Princess described herself as trusting by nature, but said she eventually chose to end the contact.
Crown Prince Haakon said he knew they knew each other, and that the Crown Princess stayed at the house in Palm Beach. He confirmed there was no secrecy between them. The Crown Prince also revealed that he himself met Epstein once, when the family was on holiday in St. Barts and he encountered him on the street in a brief meeting.
The Crown Princess emphasised that she will not reveal the name of the mutual friend who introduced her to Epstein. She wishes to maintain her integrity and not blame others. It is her responsibility that she did not investigate Epstein's background thoroughly enough, and she must be allowed to keep her integrity in this matter.
When asked who was informed about the contact, Mette-Marit answered that neither the Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor the Royal Palace were told. She explained that they do not go around informing people about their private friendships, and that they have a private life that is important for them to keep private. The responsibility to check backgrounds is hers, she emphasised.