Norwegian Royals Emerge Amid Epstein Scandal Fallout

Norwegian Royals Emerge Amidst Scandal and Legal Battles

Norway’s King Harald V and Queen Sonja have made their first public appearance since the monarchy became embroiled in the fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein files and a member of the royal family faced serious legal charges. The 88-year-old King and Queen were seen in Milan, Italy, over the weekend, marking their attendance at the launch of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

Their visit saw them supporting Norway’s Olympic contingent, including a stop at the athletes’ village to offer congratulations to both participants and medal winners. The jubilant atmosphere of the Games appeared to provide a welcome distraction for the royal couple during what has undoubtedly been one of the most challenging periods for the House of Glücksburg.

The recent weeks have been dominated by revelations concerning Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s past connections with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The release of millions of documents by the US Department of Justice has brought these links to the fore, prompting a second public statement from the Crown Princess in as many weeks.

Adding to the scrutiny, previously unseen photographs surfaced just days before the King and Queen’s public outing. These images depicted Crown Princess Mette-Marit meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former associate, in New York. The photograph, taken at the Clinton Global Initiative event, captures both women smiling. Notably, Mette-Marit’s son, Marius Borg Høiby, who is currently on trial for multiple serious charges including rape and assault, was present with his mother at the Manhattan event.

The newly disclosed Epstein files suggest that Crown Princess Mette-Marit engaged in over 100 cordial email and text exchanges with Epstein. This occurred even as it was known that he had been previously jailed for sex offences against a minor in 2008. In her latest statement, the Crown Princess offered a second apology for any contact she had with Epstein, specifically addressing her apologies to her in-laws, the King and Queen.

“It is important for me to apologise to all of you whom I have disappointed,” Mette-Marit stated on Friday. “Some of the content of the messages between Epstein and me does not represent the person I want to be. I also apologise for the situation I have put the royal family in, especially the King and Queen.”

Royal Family Grapples with Fallout and Legal Proceedings

The Royal House also indicated that the Crown Princess wished to provide further clarification on the matter but was currently unable to do so, requesting time to gather her thoughts. Her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, echoed this sentiment during a visit to a kindergarten shortly after.

“The Crown Princess understands that there are many who want to hear from her,” Crown Prince Haakon said. “She would like to tell more about the case, and we hope there is understanding that she needs some time.” He further emphasised his priorities in recent days: “For me, the most important thing these past few days has been to take care of the flock. We support Marius in the situation he is in. We look after the other children as well. They also need to be cared for, and I have to make sure to take care of the Crown Princess.”

The “other children” Crown Prince Haakon referred to are Princess Ingrid Alexandra, aged 22, and Prince Sverre Magnus, aged 20. Princess Ingrid Alexandra, who is next in line to the throne after her father, has reportedly expressed her distress over the ongoing scandals in a private Instagram post that was subsequently leaked. Her message read: “I am going crazy. When is enough.” Princess Ingrid Alexandra is expected to return to Australia by late February to continue her three-year degree program at the University of Sydney.

Meanwhile, Marius Borg Høiby’s trial commenced in Oslo last week and is anticipated to continue for another six weeks. The 29-year-old denies four allegations of rape, along with other serious charges. If convicted, he faces a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years. Prior to the trial’s commencement, the Royal House confirmed that neither the King and Queen nor the Crown Prince couple would be attending court proceedings.

Shifting Public Opinion and Health Concerns

The impact of these controversies on public perception of the Norwegian monarchy is becoming increasingly evident. Support for the monarchy, which stood at 70 per cent just a few weeks ago, has significantly declined, plummeting to a record low of 53 per cent last week.

Further compounding the challenges, a separate poll conducted last week for Norwegian news outlet TV2 revealed that a substantial 47.6 per cent of respondents do not believe Crown Princess Mette-Marit should ascend to the throne as Norway’s next queen.

Beyond the scandals, Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s health has also been a prominent topic in the headlines, raising concerns for the royal family. In December, the Royal House of Norway announced that the princess’s medical team was initiating preparations for a potential lung transplant assessment. Her doctors have, however, assured the public that her position within the royal family would not grant her preferential treatment on the transplant waiting list. Crown Princess Mette-Marit was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, a condition that causes lung scarring and impairs oxygen uptake.