• Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit faces controversy over her prior friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
• She admitted to "poor judgment" and expressed embarrassment over her contact with Epstein.
• The scandal coincides with her son's rape trial, exacerbating her family's challenges.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway finds herself embroiled in a scandal after unsealed documents revealed her extensive contact with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Her name appears over 1,000 times in these documents, which were released by the US Department of Justice. The princess's communications with Epstein, ranging from 2011 to 2014, have raised serious questions about her judgment and future as a potential queen, according to reports from Le Monde, BBC, and South China Morning Post.

In an email exchange published recently, Mette-Marit queried Epstein about "suggesting two naked women carrying a surfboard for my 15 yr old son's wallpaper." Another email from 2012 expressed her thoughts that Paris was "good for adultery," showcasing the troubling nature of their correspondence. Despite having previously googled Epstein and finding his history "not too good," Mette-Marit continued her relationship with him until 2014, when she felt he was using their connection to further his own interests, as detailed by Le Monde, BBC, and South China Morning Post.

In response to the backlash, Mette-Marit admitted, "I showed poor judgment and regret having any contact with Epstein. It is simply embarrassing." Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre also acknowledged her admission, declaring that her judgment was indeed flawed. His comments on her situation indicate a rare level of public criticism directed towards a member of the royal family, as further explored by Le Monde and BBC.

The timing of these revelations is particularly unfortunate, as Mette-Marit’s son, Marius Borg Høiby, is set to stand trial on multiple charges, including rape and assault, starting February 3. He has been accused of committing 38 crimes and could face up to 16 years in prison if found guilty. The royal couple will not attend the trial, with Crown Prince Haakon indicating that Mette-Marit would be on a private trip during this period, according to Le Monde and South China Morning Post.