Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway has given a much-anticipated interview on her contacts with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which is due to be broadcast by NRK TV on Friday. The interview was recorded with Crown Prince Haakon at their residence in Skaugum on Thursday, as her son Marius Borg Høiby's rape trial neared an end at Oslo District Court. His trial began at the start of February, as his mother faced mounting questions over her links to Epstein which came to light in hundreds of emails.
The crown princess has already issued an apology and admitted to showing 'poor judgement', but had said she needed time before explaining herself in greater detail. As the scandals buffeting Mette-Marit's family mounted, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said at the time he agreed that she had exercised poor judgement. It was seen as a rare public criticism of a royal figure.
Although the crown princess stayed away from the trial, the timing of her interview indicates she and the crown prince were waiting for proceedings to come to an end before going public. The seven-week trial has been followed very closely by Norwegians, who have seen Høiby grow up alongside the royal family without being a member of it.
The 29-year-old faces 40 charges ranging from four counts of rape and serious assault and abuse to drugs and traffic violations. His defense lawyers argue he should be cleared of the most serious charges and that an 18-month jail term was appropriate for offenses he has admitted to, while prosecutors have suggested a sentence of over seven years.
The trial, coming alongside the scrutiny over Mette-Marit's earlier connections to Epstein, places the royal family in a challenging spotlight. Recent revelations have indicated that she spent time at Epstein's residence, despite being aware of his controversial reputation. The events have prompted discussions around accountability, ethics, and the responsibilities of public figures, especially concerning their past associations. Mette-Marit has expressed her regret for her connections to Epstein, underscoring her desire to present herself authentically to the public.
The crown princess has already issued an apology and admitted to showing 'poor judgement', but had said she needed time before explaining herself in greater detail. As the scandals buffeting Mette-Marit's family mounted, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said at the time he agreed that she had exercised poor judgement. It was seen as a rare public criticism of a royal figure.
Although the crown princess stayed away from the trial, the timing of her interview indicates she and the crown prince were waiting for proceedings to come to an end before going public. The seven-week trial has been followed very closely by Norwegians, who have seen Høiby grow up alongside the royal family without being a member of it.
The 29-year-old faces 40 charges ranging from four counts of rape and serious assault and abuse to drugs and traffic violations. His defense lawyers argue he should be cleared of the most serious charges and that an 18-month jail term was appropriate for offenses he has admitted to, while prosecutors have suggested a sentence of over seven years.
The trial, coming alongside the scrutiny over Mette-Marit's earlier connections to Epstein, places the royal family in a challenging spotlight. Recent revelations have indicated that she spent time at Epstein's residence, despite being aware of his controversial reputation. The events have prompted discussions around accountability, ethics, and the responsibilities of public figures, especially concerning their past associations. Mette-Marit has expressed her regret for her connections to Epstein, underscoring her desire to present herself authentically to the public.
