Crown Princess CAUGHT—Palace Lied About Everything

Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit maintained a years-long friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein despite knowing about his criminal past, raising serious questions about judgment and accountability among Europe’s privileged elite.

Story Snapshot

Newly unsealed DOJ documents reveal over 1,000 mentions of Crown Princess Mette-Marit in Epstein files, exposing extensive contact from 2011-2014
Princess admitted she “googled” Epstein in 2011 and knew “it didn’t look too good” but continued the friendship anyway, even staying at his Florida residence
Norwegian palace previously lied about details of the relationship, claiming it ended in 2013 and meetings were by chance
Scandal compounds existing royal family crisis as princess’s son faces rape trial on 38 charges
Experts call it the worst crisis in Norwegian monarchy history, with questions emerging about whether she’s fit to become queen

Elite Friendship Despite Criminal Conviction

Crown Princess Mette-Marit began her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein in 2011, three years after his widely-publicized 2008 conviction for procuring a minor for prostitution. Norwegian media had extensively covered Epstein’s criminal background, labeling him a “convicted pedophile” by the time the princess initiated contact. Email evidence shows she acknowledged searching for information about him online, telling Epstein she “googled” him and “it didn’t look too good,” accompanied by a smiling emoji. Despite this awareness, she proceeded to cultivate a friendship that would span three years and include over 1,000 documented contacts.

Palace Cover-Up Exposed by Federal Documents

The Norwegian Royal Palace attempted to minimize the scandal when it first emerged in 2019, claiming the relationship was limited and ended in 2013. Those claims have now been thoroughly debunked by newly unsealed U.S. Department of Justice documents released in early February 2026. The files prove contact continued through 2014 and reveal the princess stayed at Epstein’s Palm Beach, Florida property for four days in 2013. Palace spokesperson Guri Varpe also falsely claimed a meeting in Saint Barthélemy was by chance, when documents show it was deliberately planned. This pattern of deception raises fundamental questions about institutional accountability and transparency.

Inappropriate Communications Reveal Poor Judgment

The unsealed documents contain deeply troubling email exchanges that demonstrate the familiar nature of their relationship. In one 2012 communication, Epstein suggested wallpaper designs for the princess involving “two naked women,” a revelation that underscores the inappropriate character of their interactions. The princess only ended contact in 2014 when she felt Epstein was attempting to leverage the relationship for his own benefit. This timeline is particularly disturbing given that Epstein’s criminal status was public knowledge throughout their entire association. The contrast with Prince Andrew’s forced resignation in 2019 highlights a double standard in how European royalty faces accountability.

Royal Family Crisis Deepens

The Epstein scandal arrives at a devastating time for Norway’s royal family. Mette-Marit’s son, Marius Borg Høiby, faces trial on 38 charges including rape, with proceedings beginning just days after the Epstein document release. Royal historian Lars Hovbakke Sørensen declared this “the most severe crisis in Norwegian monarchy history,” warning that insufficient transparency risks permanent damage to public confidence. Even Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre publicly agreed with the assessment of poor judgment, signaling cross-party political concern. Commentary in Aftenposten newspaper posed the blunt question: “Can Mette-Marit become queen?” The answer increasingly appears uncertain as Norwegians question whether someone who knowingly befriended a convicted sex offender deserves such honor.

The scandal exemplifies a broader problem of elite privilege and poor judgment among European royalty. While everyday citizens face consequences for associating with criminals, those in power often expect different standards. Carl-Erik Grimstad, another royal expert, noted the court failed its duty to monitor such relationships, stating “alarm bells should have rung.” This institutional negligence enabled a future queen consort to maintain ties with a predator whose victims deserved better. As Americans who value accountability and common-sense judgment, we recognize this pattern: elites protecting their own while ordinary people pay the price. The princess’s apology rings hollow when it took federal document releases to force the truth, and her family’s compounding scandals suggest systemic problems within institutions that demand public respect without earning it.