Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit confronts mounting public scrutiny following the release of documents detailing her connections to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to reports.
This development occurs just as her stepson, Marius Borg Hoiby, faces a high-profile trial beginning Tuesday in Oslo District Court on 38 criminal counts, including allegations of rape and drug transport. Hoiby was reportedly arrested over the weekend again on suspicion of assault and violating a restraining order, police confirmed.
The indictment against Hoiby centers on four alleged rapes spanning from 2018 to late 2024, alongside charges related to violence against former partners and transporting 3.5 kilograms of marijuana. Hoiby, who holds no royal title, denies the sexual abuse charges and the majority of the violence allegations, his defense team stated.
Simultaneously, the newly unsealed Epstein files reportedly contain several hundred mentions of the Crown Princess, including exchanges showing she borrowed an Epstein property in Palm Beach, Florida, in early 2013. The Royal House confirmed this contact occurred via a mutual acquaintance, broadcaster NRK reported.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit issued a statement expressing deep regret, acknowledging poor judgment for not investigating Epstein's background more thoroughly and stating, “It is simply embarrassing.” The Royal House confirmed the Crown Prince and Princess will not attend the trial, emphasizing Hoiby is a private citizen subject to the law.
Political commentators view the convergence of these events as a serious institutional risk, with Kjetil B Alstadheim of Aftenposten suggesting the handling of the Epstein matter could prove decisive for Mette-Marit’s future standing as Queen.
These controversies compound existing issues for the Norwegian royals, including ongoing criticism surrounding the business activities of Princess Martha Louise and her marriage to an American shaman. The confluence of legal jeopardy and association with Epstein tests the typically high public approval ratings enjoyed by the Scandinavian crown.
Global observers will monitor how the Royal House navigates this period of intense domestic scrutiny, particularly as the trial commences and further details regarding the Epstein correspondence emerge. The institution is seeking to maintain distance while managing the fallout from both personal and association-based controversies.
