Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit addresses Jeffrey Epstein ties in rare NRK interview

Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit has broken her silence on her past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in a nationally broadcast interview with public broadcaster NRK, drawing sharp reactions from international media and royal observers.

The 20-minute interview, aired on Thursday, marked the first time the princess publicly addressed her relationship with Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Mette-Marit described feeling “manipulated and deceived” by the disgraced financier, though critics argue her responses left key questions unanswered.

International outlets quickly picked up the story, with Germany’s Bild tabloid headlining its coverage: “I did not know Epstein was a sex offender.” Danish entertainment director Fie West, of newspaper B.T., called the interview damaging to Mette-Marit’s reputation.

“It’s bizarre to see a Norwegian crown princess explain her friendship with Jeffrey Epstein,” West told B.T., adding that Mette-Marit’s claim of being unaware of Epstein’s crimes—despite admitting to Googling him—was “either stupid or extremely unbelievable.”

The interview also dominated headlines in Finnish media, including Iltalehti, Yle, and Ilta-Sanomat, while Swedish outlets Expressen and Aftonbladet highlighted the unanswered questions. Germany’s Der Spiegel and Denmark’s Se & Hør featured it as a top story, alongside Belgian and French publications.

Norwegian commentators echoed the skepticism. Dagbladet columnist Sigrid Hvidsten acknowledged Mette-Marit appeared “genuine and credible” but criticized her evasiveness, particularly her refusal to disclose details about emails exchanged with Epstein or the identity of a mutual “secret” friend who introduced them.

“She repeatedly declined to answer, which is weak,” Hvidsten said. “Claiming not to remember what she found when she Googled Epstein is a major flaw in this interview.”

Communication specialist Jenny Nygaard noted the strategic inclusion of Crown Prince Haakon in the interview, calling it “very effective” to have him present. “If she had been alone, it would have sent a strong signal to the public,” Nygaard told Dagbladet.

The interview comes amid declining public trust in the Norwegian monarchy, a trend referenced by Britain’s The Independent in its coverage of the scandal.