Crown Princess of Norway Mette-Marit stated in an interview aired on Friday that American financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein manipulated her in the past, LETA reports citing AFP.
Coming from a humble background, Mette-Marit married the heir to the Norwegian throne, Prince Haakon, in August 2001, and her name appears in documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the Epstein case.
They testify to an unexpectedly close friendship between the crown princess and Epstein. This information has sparked discussions in Norway about whether Mette-Marit can become queen.
"Of course, I wish I had never met him," the crown princess said in an interview with the state broadcaster NRK, lasting about 20 minutes, in which she attempted to explain her relationship with Epstein, who died in custody in 2019.
"It is extremely important for me to acknowledge that I did not study his past more thoroughly, and to acknowledge that I was manipulated and misled so much," she noted.
Mette-Marit also clarified the nature of her relationship with Epstein, who pleaded guilty in 2008 to charges of involving a minor in prostitution and died in prison awaiting trial on charges of human trafficking for sexual exploitation.
"It was a friendly relationship: first and foremost, he was my friend. But if your question is whether these relationships had another character, the answer is no," emphasized the Crown Princess of Norway.
Previously, Mette-Marit had stated that she deeply regrets her connections with the discredited financier.
The crown princess's connection with Epstein further undermined the reputation of the Norwegian royal family.
Mette-Marit's eldest son, Marius Borg Høiby, born before her relationship with Haakon, is currently facing trial on charges of rape and other crimes.
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