When the Department of Justice released a new series of Jeffrey Epstein files last week, royal watchers were initially drawn to the revelations about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his appearance in photographs from the late sex criminal’s collection. But now, Epstein’s link to another set of European royals is causing controversy. On Monday, Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit released an apology after a series of emails revealed the extent of her communication and travel with Epstein.
Mette-Marit, whose husband Crown Prince Haakon is heir apparent to the country’s constitutional monarchy, apologized for the emails and expressed concern for Epstein’s victims. “I must take responsibility for not having investigated Epstein’s background more thoroughly, and for not realizing sooner what kind of person he was. I deeply regret this, and it is a responsibility I must bear. I showed poor judgment and regret having had any contact with Epstein at all. It is simply embarrassing,” she said in a statement. “I wish to express my deep sympathy and solidarity with the victims of the abuse committed by Jeffrey Epstein.”
The emails show an account called HKH Kronprinsessen communicating with Epstein to plan vacations and a visit to Palm Beach, and to discuss health concerns. The emails show the extent of their association. One exchange from October 2012 shows the Kronprinsessen account complaining about a “boring wedding” and asking for book recommendations. In response, Epstein suggests Tom Wolfe’s The Bonfire of the Vanities, Theodore Dreiser’s The Financier, and Joseph Heller’s Catch-22.
In one of their earliest exchanges, the Kronprinsessen account admits to searching for more information about Epstein. “Googled u after last email,” the message read. “Agree didn’t look too good.”
The unfolding scandal is so shocking in Norway that the nation’s prime minister, Jonas Gahr Støre—known to American politicos as the recipient of Donald Trump’s Nobel Peace Prize threats—has commented on the situation. “Crown Princess Mette-Marit has herself acknowledged that she has exercised poor judgment, and I agree with her,” he told reporters. “I understand why many people have reacted strongly to the revelations in the documents.”
The crown princess first publicly apologized for her communications with Epsitein soon after he died by suicide in 2019. At the time, Mette-Marit told Norwegian newspaper Dagens Næringsliv that she didn’t know the details about his 2008 conviction on charges of soliciting sex from a minor. “I never would have associated with Mr. Epstein if I had been aware of the seriousness of the crimes he committed,” she said. “I should have investigated his past more thoroughly, and I am sorry that I didn’t.”
A royal communications officer told the outlet that the crown princess met Epstein on vacation and that she later visited one of Epstein’s homes. The communications officer added that she ended the association because “she felt that Mr. Epstein attempted to trade on the relationship he had to the crown princess, and use it for his own gain in other relations.”
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.vanityfair.com ’
