The news that Crown Princess Mette-Marit's name appears frequently in the Epstein files has hit Norway like a bombshell. And with Mette-Marit's son, Marius Borg Høiby, set to stand trial this week on multiple counts of rape and assault, many are now wondering how far from the tree the apple really falls.
Mette-Marit had a troubled background and a rather shaky start as royalty, but she has managed to win the hearts of Norwegians by keeping a fairly low profile over the years, says Roger Lundgren.
Here, however, she has shown genuinely poor judgment. She knows very well what Epstein has been up to because she hasn't been living under a rock, but she doesn't seem to have understood that as a royal you have to be incredibly careful about who you trust and who you associate with.
Strong position
The Norwegian court has previously been criticized for how it has handled the Høiby case, where the Crown Princess's son faces up to 16 years in prison. On Sunday, the 'bonus prince' was arrested by police, accused of new violent crimes.
What I think many Norwegians are asking themselves is why an almost thirty-year-old man with every advantage has never obtained an education or had a job. In some way, his life has been financed, but the Crown Princess couple have declined to answer questions about whether the money comes from part of the monkey business.
How many crises can the Norwegian monarchy survive?
The Norwegian royal family's position is strong in Norway, but no institution can withstand much. It will remain as long as the people want it to remain, says Roger Lundgren.
Now we have an aging royal couple, a scandal-ridden princess (Märtha Louise) and a seriously ill Crown Princess. The brightest star, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, has moved to Australia so the only one who now represents the family full-time is Crown Prince Haakon.
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Broken brand
Mette-Marit has the rare, chronic disease pulmonary fibrosis. In December, it was announced that the disease had worsened and was now so serious that she may need a lung transplant.
Roger Lundgren believes that ultimately it may be the illness that saves sympathy for Mette-Marit.
“Never complain, never explain” worked for Queen Elizabeth, but not in a modern and non-hierarchical country like Norway. Mette-Marit will have to give a big interview and apologize for a lot of things.
I think the Norwegians will forgive her, but the brand is really broken, says Roger Lundgren.
Kristina Erkenborn/TT
Facts: Mette-Marit's relationship with Epstein
TT
Crown Princess Mette-Marit is mentioned hundreds of times in the Epstein documents. She is said to have borrowed the financier's Florida home with a friend for four days, among other things.
The Norwegian court has previously confirmed that Mette-Marit met Epstein on several occasions during the period 2011–2013. Epstein was first convicted in 2008 for purchasing sex from a minor.
In the fall of 2012, the Crown Princess asked Jeffrey Epstein if it was “inappropriate” to suggest a picture of naked women to her “15-year-old son.”
Mette-Marit is said to have responded that "Paris is good for infidelity" when Epstein wrote that he had been looking for a wife and preferred Scandinavian women.
She is also said to have made disparaging remarks about a prince's wedding in Luxembourg in conversations with Epstein, calling it "death-stricken."
