In brief
Following public backlash, Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway has extended a profound apology for her past friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, revealing that she exchanged messages with him for three years. In her statement, she expressed regret for her actions and the distress caused to the Royal Family, amid mounting pressure to provide clarity on her association with Epstein. The revelations followed the release of hundreds of emails from 2011 to 2014, which have shocked the public and put a spotlight on the royal family’s private affairs.
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, 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.
She wanted to provide a more detailed explanation but was in a very difficult situation and needed time to gather herself. 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.
