Crown Princess Mette-Marit shocked Norway last Friday when she finally broke her silence after her name appeared multiple times in the Epstein files seven weeks earlier.
The royal, who is married to the country’s future king, Crown Prince Haakon, had taken time away from the public spotlight in the following weeks before giving a tell-all interview to NRK last week.
Mette-Marit, 52, tearfully told press she had been “manipulated and deceived” by Jeffrey Epstein during their friendship from 2011 and 2014, adding that she “didn’t know” who he really was.
However, Niklas Kokkinn-Thoresen, the editor-in-chief of Se og Hør, tells HELLO! that the interview has sparked “mixed” reactions in Norway, with the majority “broadly sceptical”.
“While some appreciate that she finally spoke, many feel the interview raised as many questions as it answered. People are not fully convinced – particularly because of the gaps in her memory and the lack of concrete detail about her relationship with Epstein.”
“Mette-Marit comes across as emotionally affected and, to some extent, sincere. She does appear to regret the association. However, there is also a sense that she is carefully choosing her words, which makes the apology feel somewhat controlled rather than fully open.
“It does not feel like the full story. The repeated references to not remembering key details create doubt. Given the seriousness of the case, people expect a clearer and more complete account.”
The Crown Princess had remained silent since the release of documents by the US Department of Justice in January, which included emails with Epstein referencing “wife hunting”, and arranging trips and meetings.
At the time, the Palace said Mette-Marit was in a “demanding” situation due to her health, but added she hoped to speak out in the near future. The Crown Princess was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018 and is currently awaiting a lung transplant.
Comparisons to Andrew’s Newsnight interview
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor notoriously spoke out about his friendship with Epstein during a Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis in 2019, including denials that he had ever met Virginia Giuffre. However, he did not include any apology for Epstein’s victims and offered bizarre excuses, claiming he couldn’t “sweat”, meaning the interview was widely considered a disaster. Afterwards, he stepped down from royal duties.
Unsurprisingly, Mette-Marit’s interview has been compared to the Newsnight interview, though Niklas says it is “not on the same level”.
© Photo: Alamy“Prince Andrew’s Newsnight interview was widely seen as catastrophic,” he tells HELLO!. “This is not on the same level, but there are comparisons in the sense that both involve attempts to explain a controversial relationship with Epstein. The key difference is tone – Mette-Marit is more humble and less defensive – but the lack of clarity still creates unease. Norway has a more forgiving public culture, and Mette-Marit has long-standing goodwill. However, there will be continued criticism and scrutiny.”
What will the impact of the interview be?
Traditionally, the royal family has been popular in Norway, though recent years have been more trying. King Harald has faced numerous health challenges, while Princess Martha Louise’s wedding to American “shaman” Durek Verrett proved controversial. Marius Borg Hoiby, Mette-Marit’s son, is also on trial for rape charges at Oslo District Court.
“The royal family depends heavily on public trust, and controversies like this can influence how future generations are perceived,” Niklas said, speaking of the NRK interview.
“It has caused some damage, but not dramatically. The Norwegian royal family still enjoys strong support overall. However, this case has chipped away at that trust and reminded people that the monarchy is not immune to scrutiny.”
© Getty ImagesThe interview was limited to 20 minutes due to the Crown Princess’s health, and she was supported by Prince Haakon, who admitted he had known the extent of his wife’s friendship with Epstein.
Niklas added: “A lot of Norwegians think Haakon handled the interview really well. It was very important. His presence signals unity and stability. It appears deliberate – a way to show that their marriage is strong and that this will not affect his future role as king.”
Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon are parents to Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 22, who will one day be queen, and Prince Sverre Magnus, 20.
What are the main takeaways from Mette-Marit’s interview?
Mette-Marit told NRK last week: “I honestly wish I had never met him. But at the same time, it’s very important to me to take responsibility for not checking his background more carefully, and for the fact that I was manipulated and deceived the way I was.
© Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images“But I think it’s important for me to make it clear that I’m not the one to feel sorry for in this situation – it’s all the victims who have been subjected to these serious abuses who deserve justice. And I feel a deep anger that they haven’t received that, and still haven’t.”
During the interview, Mette-Marit appeared tearful, and her voice cracked on occasion. She added: “At the same time, it’s important for me to say that if I have done anything that contributed to giving him legitimacy in any way, then that is, of course, very difficult for me.”
In the interview, Mette-Marit said she and Epstein were first introduced in 2011 through mutual friends, becoming close friends over time. She said the friendship was never anything more, claiming her “wife-hunting” comments were simply “banter”. She responded “I don’t know” to some of the questions, adding that her dealings with Epstein took place 15 years ago. However, she insisted: “I didn’t know he was a sex offender or an abuser.
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