A major scandal has erupted within the Norwegian monarchy following the release of thousands of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case by the U.S. Department of Justice in early 2026. These materials reportedly contain nearly one thousand references to Crown Princess Mette-Marit, indicating a sustained and regular correspondence between 2011 and 2014, according to reports citing The Guardian.
The nature of the communications suggests a personal relationship, rather than a formal or official one, as the Crown Princess used her official royal email address for exchanges. The content included casual discussions, personal anecdotes, and terms of endearment, with the princess reportedly signing off some messages as "Love, Mm."
One specific exchange caused considerable public concern: a 2012 letter where the Crown Princess sought Epstein’s opinion on whether it was inappropriate for a mother to suggest her fifteen-year-old son decorate his room with wallpaper featuring "two naked women with a surfboard." This detail has gained traction amid ongoing criminal proceedings against the Crown Princess's son, Marius Borg Høiby.
Further documentation indicates the Crown Princess spent four days at Epstein's Palm Beach villa in 2013, although the financier was reportedly absent at the time of her visit. More damagingly, a 2011 letter showed Mette-Marit informed Epstein she had Googled him, adding that the results "did not look very good," which undermines the Palace's initial defense that she was unaware of his criminal history.
In response to the public fallout, the Crown Princess issued a statement expressing deep regret for the association, admitting poor judgment and shame, and conveying solidarity with victims of sexual violence. The Royal House acknowledged the intensity of the contacts was greater than previously disclosed but maintained that communication ceased after 2014 when the Princess perceived Epstein was attempting to use the connection for influence.
This reputational damage is critical for the Norwegian monarchy, which derives significant legitimacy from its moral authority established since the 1905 establishment of the current line. Any perceived breach of integrity is viewed as a threat to the foundational unity the institution represents for the nation.
The crisis is compounded by the imminent criminal trial of Marius Borg Høiby, who faces 38 charges including allegations of sexual assault and drug offenses, further straining public trust in the royal family.
