• Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit admitted to being "manipulated and deceived" by Jeffrey Epstein.
• She expressed regret over their relationship, stating she wished she had never met him.
• The interview coincided with the trial of her son, Marius Borg Høiby, facing serious allegations.
• Mette-Marit acknowledged her failure to investigate Epstein’s background properly.
• The princess suffers from health issues, complicating her role in the royal family.

Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit said she was "manipulated and deceived" by the late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in an interview broadcast on March 20. This admission comes after the release of damning documents by the U.S. Department of Justice, which revealed an unexpectedly close friendship between Mette-Marit and Epstein, raising questions about her judgment and future role in the monarchy, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

“Of course I wish I had never met him," she stated during the interview with Norwegian broadcaster NRK, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging her misjudgment regarding Epstein's background. Mette-Marit met Epstein in 2011, maintaining contact until 2014, and has expressed her remorse for the negative attention brought to the royal family due to her association with him, according to Dawn and Le Monde.

The crown princess revealed that the situation escalated to a level where she felt unsafe during a 2013 visit to Epstein's Palm Beach property, feelings she conveyed to her husband, Crown Prince Haakon. She admits to being "gullible" and manipulated during her correspondence with Epstein, which included personal messages that have since been described as “embarrassing.” The depth of their relationship has led to further scrutiny over her capacity to fulfill royal duties, particularly amidst the ongoing legal challenges faced by her son, Marius Borg Høiby, who is accused of multiple serious crimes, reported BBC and Los Angeles Times.

Although she felt deeply regretful about her friendship with Epstein, she stressed that it was crucial to focus on the victims of his crimes who deserve justice. Mette-Marit expressed feelings of guilt regarding Epstein's victims and maintained that all responsibility for her earlier decisions rests with herself—not with her family or the royal institution, adding further to the public interest regarding her future role, particularly as opinion polls reveal a declining support for her anticipated ascension to queen, according to South China Morning Post and CBS News.

Lastly, the interview also highlighted Mette-Marit's ongoing health challenges, stating she suffers from pulmonary fibrosis, which may affect her royal responsibilities. She remarked during the interview, "If my health permits," underlining how her condition will influence her role alongside Crown Prince Haakon. Additional pressures from media scrutiny and public perception also complicate her situation within the royal family, as pointed out by various commentators following the scandal's emergence, including BBC and South China Morning Post.