Among the most shocking names to appear in the latest Epstein file release was Mette-Marit, the Crown Princess of Norway.
As was also the case for a number of other royals and public figures mentioned in the damning exposé, emails sent between the 51-year-old princess and the late sex offender were made public on Friday (30 Jan) by the US Department of Justice.
In the latest drop, Marit is mentioned over 1,000 times in documents dating to between 2011 and 2014, hinting that she and Epstein had endured a close association long after his initial 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution.
One email, first cited by Norwegian daily VG, saw the mother-of-three telling the disgraced media mogul, who died by suicide in a New York jail while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges in 2019: "You tickle my brain."
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What else did Marit tell Epstein?
In another, Marit described Epstein as 'soft hearted', and in a third, 'such sweetheart'.
A fourth message saw the royal asking her 'very charming' friend, if it was 'inappropriate for a mother to suggest two naked women carrying a surfboard for my 15 yr old sons wallpaper'.
Marit shares a daughter Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 22, and a son, Prince Sverre Magnus, 25, with Crown Prince Haakon, the heir to the Norwegian throne. She also has a 29-year-old son named Marius Borg Høiby with one-time partner, convicted felon John Oghby, who was in prison for drug-related crimes when his son was born.
Another email released last week saw Marit and Epstein discussing his recent 'wife hunt' in Paris, after which the princess claimed the capital city was 'good for adultery'.
She also noted in the same message that 'Scandis (are) better wife material'.
The royal also signed off a further message, in which she thanked Epstein for sending flowers with, 'Love, Mm'.
How has the Crowned Princess responded to the files' release?
In an official royal statement issued on Saturday (31 Jan), Marit addressed the controversy.
"I showed poor judgment and I deeply regret having had any contact with Epstein," she began. "It is simply embarrassing."
The princess also claimed her 'deep sympathy and solidarity' still lie with the paedophile's many victims, and admitted responsibility 'for not having checked Epstein’s background more closely', as well as 'not understanding quickly enough what kind of person he was'.
Marit's apology was made three days before a criminal trial against her eldest son, Høiby commenced.
He appeared in court on Tuesday (3 Feb), six months after it was announced that he'd been charged with 32 offences, including four counts of rape.
As Tyla reported earlier this week, six new charges were added to the roster ahead of the trial, including the abuse of a former partner in a close relationship, acts of violence against another, and the transportation of 3.5kg (7.7lb) of marijuana.
Høiby, who has no royal title or official duties, is also being charged with one count of rape with sexual intercourse and three counts of rape without, some of which prosecutors argue he filmed on his telephone.
His lawyer Ellen Holager Andenaes previously told press that her client had denied the most serious accusations against him, including rape and domestic violence claims. His stepfather, Crown Prince Haakon also said in a statement (cited by Reuters) that the Norwegian royal family would do their best to 'carry out our duties as best we can, as we always do'.
The royal continued: "Everyone involved in this case probably finds it challenging and difficult.
"It is for the courts to consider this matter and reach a decision.We have no further comment."
Topics: Crime, Jeffrey Epstein, News, Royal Family, US News, World News
Rhianna Benson