Norwegian PM Joins Crown Princess in Condemning Epstein Ties as Royal Family Faces Mounting Scrutiny
OSLO, Feb 2 (Reuters) – Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere on Monday echoed Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s stark admission of "poor judgement," following revelations of her sustained contact with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The prime minister’s remarks add a significant political voice to the growing scrutiny of the royal family’s associations, as newly unsealed U.S. court documents detail email exchanges that continued after Epstein’s 2008 conviction.
The files, released by the U.S. Justice Department late last week, contain extensive correspondence between the Crown Princess and Epstein, prompting a public apology from Mette-Marit over the weekend. "I must take responsibility for not having investigated Epstein's background more thoroughly," the Crown Princess said in a statement issued through the royal palace. "I deeply regret this... It is simply embarrassing."
When pressed by reporters, Prime Minister Stoere explicitly endorsed the princess’s self-criticism. "I am really using her own words. She says she has showed bad judgement. I agree," Stoere stated. He further suggested that Mette-Marit and other prominent Norwegians named in the latest document dump should provide greater clarity on the nature and extent of their ties to Epstein. "It may perhaps be reasonable to say that they should explain the extent of the contacts that have taken place," he added.
The controversy strikes at a vulnerable moment for Norway’s traditionally low-key monarchy. Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 50, has been battling pulmonary fibrosis since 2018 and awaits a lung transplant. Her son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby, is set to face trial this week on separate charges of rape and domestic violence. Meanwhile, Europe's oldest reigning monarch, 88-year-old King Harald, has significantly reduced his duties following recent hospitalizations.
The institution, supported by about 70% of Norwegians according to a recent poll, has weathered other storms in recent years. Princess Martha Louise relinquished her official duties in 2022 amid criticism over commercial use of her title and a Netflix documentary that drew internal family tensions into public view.
Public Reaction:
Lars Holm, Political Analyst in Oslo: "The Prime Minister’s statement is measured but carries weight. It formally registers official disappointment while stopping short of a constitutional crisis. The focus now is on transparency—can the palace provide a satisfactory explanation that aligns with Norwegian values?"
Kari Nilsen, Teacher from Bergen: "My heart aches for her. She has faced immense personal health struggles, and now this. It was a terrible error in judgment, yes, but the public apology seems sincere. We are a forgiving people."
Erik Søgaard, Commentator and Author: "This is not just a 'poor judgement' lapse; it’s a profound failure of duty and moral compass. Maintaining contact with a convicted child sex offender after 2008 is indefensible for any public figure, let alone a future queen. The monarchy's 'low-key' reputation cannot be a shield for such grave lapses."
Ingrid Tollefsen, Retired Civil Servant: "The timing is devastating, with her son's trial and the King's health. It feels like a perfect storm. This will test the deep but passive support Norwegians have for the crown."
Reporting by Gwladys Fouche; Editing by Alex Richardson and Reuters News Desk