{"id":2271121,"date":"2026-02-07T08:33:26","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T08:33:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2271121"},"modified":"2026-02-07T08:33:26","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T08:33:26","slug":"epstein-files-are-threatening-to-split-norways-royal-family-in-two","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/epstein-files-are-threatening-to-split-norways-royal-family-in-two\/","title":{"rendered":"Epstein files are threatening to split Norway\u2019s royal family in two"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n Norway\u2019s royal family were battling scandals on multiple fronts<\/a> this week, with charities moving to cut or review ties to the Crown Princess for her past contact with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while others question her suitability to the role of future queen.\n <\/p>\n

\n The first controversy is that of the 29-year-old son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Marius Borg H\u00f8iby<\/a>, who earlier this week broke down in tears during his first day of testimony as he denied four counts of rape in an Oslo court.\n <\/p>\n

\n H\u00f8iby sits outside the line of succession as he was born before his mother married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001.\n <\/p>\n

\n Haakon reaffirmed H\u00f8iby\u2019s status as a commoner in a rare statement ahead of the rape trial starting on Tuesday, saying his stepson was \u201cnot a member of the Royal House of Norway and is therefore autonomous.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n But his efforts to safeguard the Crown\u2019s reputation were overshadowed when a second controversy erupted, this time implicating his wife and H\u00f8iby\u2019s mother, the country\u2019s future queen.\n <\/p>\n

\n New Epstein files<\/a> released by the US Justice Department show extensive correspondence between Mette-Marit and the late sex offender \u2013 something the princess has since expressed regret over \u2013 years after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting sex from a minor.\n <\/p>\n

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\n On Friday, Norway\u2019s royal house said Mette-Marit \u201cstrongly disavows Epstein\u2019s abuse and criminal acts\u201d and is sorry for \u201cnot having understood early enough what kind of person he was.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cSome 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 that I have put the Royal Family in, especially the King and Queen,\u201d Mette-Marit said in a statement.\n <\/p>\n

\n It has sparked an open public discussion in Norway about whether Mette-Marit should become queen, experts say.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cConfidence in the Crown Princess has fallen sharply,\u201d said Tove Taalesen, a royal correspondent for news outlet Nettavisen. \u201cA majority still backs the institution, but that support is weaker, and uncertainty is growing.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n The controversy raises uncomfortable questions about Mette-Marit\u2019s position within the clan, particularly given the advanced age of King Harald V, who at 88, is Europe\u2019s oldest monarch. Harald\u2019s physical health has deteriorated in recent years<\/a>, requiring Haakon to act as regent on occasion.\n <\/p>\n

\n Mette-Marit is not facing an immediate end to her time as a working royal just yet, Taalesen cautioned, but she said one option would be for her to withdraw from royal duties citing health reasons, and leaving the crown prince to one day rule on his own.\n <\/p>\n

\n Mette-Marit was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic, progressive lung disease with a poor prognosis, in 2018 and will likely need a lung transplant, according to the royal palace.\n <\/p>\n

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\n \"Crown<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n Other royal commentators agree. Kjetil Alstadheim, the political editor at Norway\u2019s influential newspaper Aftenposten, said many Norwegians are disappointed by the revelations and have less confidence in the princess as a result.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cThey question what her judgment will be like in the future,\u201d Alstadheim told celebrity.land.\n <\/p>\n

\n Ole-J\u00f8rgen Schulsrud-Hansen, a royal commentator for Norway\u2019s broadcaster TV2, added: \u201cWe need to wait until the dust has settled to see how much it has really affected the monarchy.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n Mette-Marit became Crown Princess in 2001 after she married Haakon at Oslo cathedral in front of 800 guests and a TV audience of millions. At the time, Mette-Marit\u2019s openness about what she described as a \u201cwild life\u201d in her youth was well-received, particularly among younger generations.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cIt mobilized the younger generations who felt this was a modern monarchy, and they could identify with that,\u201d Alstadheim said. \u201cShe managed to build trust and be respected.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

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\n \"Newlyweds<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n Amid the recent furore, that trust and respect seem to be all but fading.\n <\/p>\n

\n This week, Norway\u2019s largest sexual health center, Oslo-based \u201cSex and Society,\u201d announced it would cut ties with Mette-Marit as it said the latest revelations were incompatible with the group\u2019s ethos.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cThe important thing for the foundation has been the consideration of our patients, of all victims of abuse and of all those who stand up to prevent sexual abuse,\u201d the center said in a statement.\n <\/p>\n

\n Three cultural organizations in Norway \u2013 all under the patronage of the crown princess \u2013 have also written to the royal household regarding Mette-Marit\u2019s past association with Epstein, saying the pair\u2019s contact appears to be \u201cserious and worrying.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cIt is important for our further cooperation that the Royal House provides a good explanation of the matter,\u201d Norway\u2019s Hamsun Center, F\u00f8rde Festival and Nynorsk Cultural Center wrote in a letter seen by celebrity.land.\n <\/p>\n

\n The controversial email exchanges \u2013 which demonstrated a deeper relationship between Epstein and the crown princess than previously known \u2013 have provoked rare political intervention, with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr St\u00f8re saying on Monday that Mette-Marit demonstrated poor judgment.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cShe says she has showed bad judgment. I agree,\u201d St\u00f8re told reporters.\n <\/p>\n

\n Though mirroring Mette-Marit\u2019s own words, his comments speak to the significant public pressure facing the family, royal experts say. \u201cI have not found any example from earlier in Norwegian modern history where a prime minister has criticized a member of the royal family in public like that,\u201d said Alstadheim, the political editor.\n <\/p>\n

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\n \"Norwegian<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n In emails sent from \u201cH.K.H. Kronprinsessen\u201d \u2013 which translates from Norwegian to \u201cHer Royal Highness The Crown Princess\u201d \u2013 to Epstein in 2012, Mette-Marit calls the late sex offender \u201csweetheart\u201d and \u201csoft hearted.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n In another 2012 email exchange, she calls Epstein \u201cvery charming,\u201d while adding: \u201cIs it inappropriate for a mother to suggest two naked women carrying a surfboard for my 15 yr old sons wallpaper ?\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n Another conversation in 2012 sees Epstein tell Mette-Marit he is on a \u201cwife hunt,\u201d before adding: \u201cParis is proving interesting but I prefer scandinavians (sic).\u201d In response, Mette-Marit says Paris is \u201cgood for adultery\u201d and \u201cScandis better wife material.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n Mette-Marit accepted she showed \u201cpoor judgment\u201d over her relationship with Epstein but said he was \u201csolely responsible for his actions.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cI must take responsibility for not having investigated Epstein\u2019s 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,\u201d she told celebrity.land in a statement.\n <\/p>\n

\n As pressure on Mette-Marit builds, former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbj\u00f8rn Jagland is under investigation \u201con suspicion of aggravated corruption\u201d related to his ties to Epstein, Norwegian law enforcement officials said in a statement Thursday.\n <\/p>\n

\n Norway is investigating \u201cwhether gifts, travel and loans were received in connection with his position,\u201d according to \u00d8kokrim, the country\u2019s national prosecutorial service and police agency.\n <\/p>\n

\n DOJ files show that Jagland exchanged friendly emails with Epstein and planned a vacation on his island. Jagland\u2019s lawyer told celebrity.land the former leader would contribute fully to the investigation, adding that \u201cbased on what we have uncovered so far, we remain confident about the outcome.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

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\n \"Former<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n Other European figures too are included in the latest trove, including royals, although being named in the files does not indicate any wrongdoing.\n <\/p>\n

\n In one email sent to Epstein in 2010, a person whose name is redacted included a photo appearing to show Sweden\u2019s Princess Sofia, then-Sofia Kristina Hellqvist, on a trip to Africa.\n <\/p>\n

\n The email reads: \u201cHere is a photo of our Sofia – you remember – i.e. soon Princess Sofia\u2026the whole Swedish press is looking for her \u2026 while she is in Africa..!\u201d The context surrounding the email exchange is unknown.\n <\/p>\n

\n The name \u201cSophia Hellqvist\u201d is also listed alongside Epstein on a 2012 guest list \u2013 which was emailed to the late sex offender \u2013 for what appears to be a performance of Les Mis\u00e9rables.\n <\/p>\n

\n Princess Sofia met Epstein on several occasions around 20 years ago before she became a member of the royal family, Sweden\u2019s royal court told celebrity.land Friday.\n <\/p>\n

\n But they denied the princess attended such an event in 2012.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cWe are aware that the Princess\u2019 name (misspelled) is reported to have been found in a document from a premiere in 2012.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cHowever, the Princess does not know how her name has ended up on this list,\u201d they said, adding she was in Sweden at the time and had not met Epstein for \u201cseveral years.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n Meanwhile, in 2012, Denmark\u2019s then-Crown Prince, now King Frederik X, was listed in an email sent to Epstein as a \u201cconfirmed guest\u201d for a dinner party. It is not clear if Epstein or the crown prince attended the event. celebrity.land has approached Denmark\u2019s royal family for comment.\n <\/p>\n

\n As celebrity.land has reported<\/a>, Britain\u2019s former Prince Andrew is also included multiple times in the files, as is his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who has previously expressed regret over her association with Epstein.\n <\/p>\n

\n Back in Norway, and with H\u00f8iby\u2019s rape trial expected to last several weeks, Taalesen believes the two swirling royal controversies are \u201creinforcing each other.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n The daily courtroom coverage will keep the royal family at the forefront of public attention as the pressure on Mette-Marit grows, she says.\n <\/p>\n

\n But, mirroring the fallout in Britain, it is the Epstein emails which present the most serious challenge to the family name in decades \u2013 a challenge she says the royal household cannot afford to ignore.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n

\u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.celebrity.land.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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