Norway’s Crown Princess Apologizes Over Jeffrey Epstein Ties | EUROtoday

OSLO, Norway (AP) — Norway’s crown princess apologized on Friday for the state of affairs she has put the royal household in as she faces scrutiny over her contacts with the late intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein, a part of a broader apology for all those who has “disappointed.”

Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s communications and contacts with Epstein have put her within the highlight over the previous week, including to the embarrassment to the royals simply as her son went on trial in Oslo for a number of offences together with costs of rape.

The Epstein recordsdata contained a number of hundred mentions of the crown princess, who stated in 2019 that she regretted having had contact with Epstein, Norwegian media reported.

The paperwork, which embrace e mail exchanges, confirmed that Mette-Marit borrowed an Epstein-owned property in Palm Beach, Florida, for a number of days in 2013. Broadcaster NRK reported that the keep was organized via a mutual pal, which was later confirmed by the royal family.

The royal palace stated Friday that Mette-Marit desires to speak about what occurred and clarify herself in additional element, however is unable to at current. It added that she is in a really troublesome state of affairs and “hopes for understanding that she needs time to gather her thoughts.”

It additionally issued an announcement from the crown princess — her second in per week — during which she reiterated her deep remorse for her previous friendship with Epstein.

“It is important for me to apologize to all of you whom I have disappointed,” she stated. “Some of the content of the messages between Epstein and me does not represent the person I want to be. I also apologize for the situation I have put the Royal Family in, especially the King and Queen.”

King Harald, 88, and the royals are usually common in Norway, however the case towards Mette-Marit’s son, Marius Borg Høiby, has been an issue for the household’s picture since 2024 and the most recent Epstein recordsdata have compounded that. Mette-Marit is married to Crown Prince Haakon, the inheritor to the throne.

The launch of paperwork included an e mail from Mette-Marit to Epstein in November 2012 asking: “Is it inappropriate for a mother to suggest two naked women carrying a surfboard for my I5-year-old son’s wallpaper?”

He replied, “Let them decide,” and suggested that the mom ought to, “Stay out of it.”

Mette-Marit, 52, stated in an announcement issued shortly after the recordsdata had been launched that she “must take responsibility for not having investigated Epstein’s background more thoroughly, and for not realizing sooner what kind of person he was.” She added: “I showed poor judgment and regret having had any contact with Epstein at all. It is simply embarrassing.”

The crown princess isn’t the one high-profile Norwegian who faces unflattering consideration stemming from the paperwork on millionaire financier and intercourse offender Epstein launched by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The Norwegian Economic Crime Investigation Service, a blended unit of police and prosecutors, stated Thursday that it might look into whether or not presents, journey or loans had been obtained by former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland in connection along with his positions.

Jagland was Norway’s prime minister between 1996 and 1997. He additionally has chaired the Norwegian Nobel Committee and was secretary normal of the Council of Europey.

The recordsdata revealed years of contact between the politician and Epstein. Emails point out that he made plans to go to Epstein’s island along with his household in 2014, when he was chairman of the Nobel committee, with an Epstein assistant organizing the flights.

Norwegian authorities are additionally trying to raise Jagland’s immunity, which he enjoys due to his previous as a diplomat. His authorized consultant instructed Norwegian broadcaster NRK that Jagland is cooperating with the investigation.

The World Economic Forum additionally introduced on Thursday that it was opening an inner overview into its CEO Børge Brende to find out his relationship with Epstein, after the recordsdata indicated the 2 had dined collectively a number of instances and exchanged messages. Brende was Norway’s international minister from 2013-2017.

He instructed NRK that he’s cooperating with the investigation, that he solely met Epstein in enterprise settings and he had been unaware of Epstein’s prison background.

Epstein killed himself in 2019 whereas awaiting trial on costs that he sexually abused underage women at his houses within the U.S.