In brief
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway has come under scrutiny for her past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, leading to her issuing a profound apology to the public and the royal family. The apology follows the disclosure of three years' worth of exchanged messages with the late sex offender, prompting significant media attention and public concern.
Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit has given a profound apology to Norwegians for her friendship with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after it emerged they had exchanged messages for three years.
I also apologise for the situation in which I have placed the Royal House, especially the King and Queen, she said in a palace statement after days of mounting pressure to address the issue.
Harald V and Queen Sonja, who are both 88, have not commented on the revelations. The King met Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre on Friday, alongside Crown Prince Haakon, who told reporters later that his wife wanted to speak: But right now she can't, and I also tell her she is not allowed to.
Hundreds of emails from 2011-14 involving Epstein and the crown princess came to light in the cache of files published by the US justice department a week ago. Some of the exchanges apparently involve plans to meet in person, and reveal she spent four days at Epstein's Palm Beach house in Florida while he was not there.
The warm nature of the correspondence has come as a shock to Norwegians, and she appears to have been aware he had already served a jail term in 2008: Googled u after last email, she wrote in October 2011. Agree didn't look too good.
Although an initial statement was released last Saturday, in which the crown princess expressed regret and admitted poor judgement, the palace had been pressed to provide further details of how well she knew Epstein. In a statement on Friday, the palace said the crown princess was deeply saddened that she had failed to realise early enough what kind of person he was.
It is important for me to say I am sorry to all those I have disappointed. Some of the content in the messages between Epstein and me does not represent the person I want to be, she added.
