Norwegian Crown Princess, who herself appears in Epstein files, responds to victim testimony: “I am deeply affected”
Her son is currently on trial for several rapes and a range of other criminal offences, but the Norwegian Crown Princess herself has also come under heavy fire in recent weeks. At the beginning of February, the American court again released a large number of documents surrounding convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. And Crown Princess Mette-Marit is not only mentioned numerous times, she also appeared to have had contact with the American for years between 2011 and 2014. She also spent a few days at his holiday home in Florida and spoke to him about her son Marius Borg Høiby.
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Recently surfaced photos now also show that Mette-Marit took her son to a Clinton event in New York on Sunday, September 23, 2012. And there, photographer Pontus Höök took some photos of the pair on behalf of the Norwegian news agency NTB. These photos, which have never been published before, show how the Crown Princess meets Ghislaine Maxwell. She is Epstein’s ex-girlfriend and was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2021. The meeting between the Crown Princess and Maxwell lasted about two minutes, according to the photos. Five minutes later, Bill Clinton took the stage and gave an opening speech.
NTB asked the Norwegian palace if that was the only time Mette-Marit met Maxwell and if she had anything to say about that meeting. But the answer was: “The Crown Princess does not remember meeting Maxwell.” The palace did not want to comment on why her then 15-year-old son was also there.
Victim
On Wednesday, Mette-Marit once again felt compelled to respond to the facts. The reason was the Norwegian TV program The debate. It featured Marina Lacerda, one of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims, on Tuesday evening. She criticized the Norwegian Crown Princess for her contact with the sex offender. “She must start with honesty. She must take responsibility for the conversations she had with this man who was active in child trafficking and child abuse,” Lacerda said.
“I want the truth. What they are doing, what Ghislaine is doing, they are keeping quiet about it. They are ignoring it and hoping it will go away. But I don’t think it will go away. I think it will only get worse. So before there are more revelations, it is better to just tell what you know and tell the truth,” she told Norwegian broadcaster NRK.
Marina Lacerda, victim of Jeffrey Epstein, spoke about her experiences during the Norwegian TV program. © epa
Lacerda wants answers. Why did Norway’s Crown Princess speak to a convicted rapist even after Googling him? “There was nothing else in Epstein’s world that showed him in a bad light other than the fact that he loved children. So I think she should have known back then not to message him. She has children of her own. I think it’s absolutely disgusting that she would even talk to someone like that,” she continues. “There are no excuses here. Everyone is trying to make excuses. Everyone knew what happened to Epstein in 2008. (He was already convicted then, ed.) And after that, everyone, not just the rich and powerful, should have cut off all contact with Epstein. He should have spent much longer in prison.”
“An apology would be nice. That she would admit the truth and apologize,” said Lacerda. “I think Crown Princess Mette-Marit needs to understand that there is a bigger picture at play. We need to think not only of those who survived this, but also of the children who will grow up. What if it had been her daughter? What if her son had gone through this? Then she would have fought for the truth and ensured that those responsible were held accountable.”
Just before the trial of son Marius, Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit must now answer for her close ties with Epstein: “Paris is good for adultery”
“Deeply touched”
The Norwegian Palace then sent a statement on behalf of the Crown Princess. “I have been deeply touched by the stories of Epstein’s many victims, and they have my full support. It is important that their voices are heard. As both a woman and a mother, I support them,” she said.
“Jeffrey Epstein is responsible for his actions. I must take responsibility for not investigating Epstein’s background more thoroughly and for not understanding quickly enough what kind of person he was. I deeply regret that and this is a responsibility I must bear.”
DOCUMENTED REFERENCES
Exploring Documented Records
Public interest in the Epstein case continues not only because of court proceedings and testimonies, but also due to the growing body of documented records that help researchers and readers understand the broader context. Beyond legal files and media reports, some independent projects have organized publicly available data connected to Epstein’s activities.
One example is a structured archive of documented Amazon order records, where purchases are cataloged with dates and product details. While individual items do not prove wrongdoing on their own, examining documented information alongside established facts helps paint a clearer picture of the environment and circumstances surrounding the case.
Browse the structured archive of documented order records
For readers looking to review primary-source style data rather than interpretations, exploring compiled records can provide additional context to the broader discussion.
